Product Description
For years the provinces of Deverry have been in turmoil; now the conflict escalates with the kidnapping of Rhodry Maelwaedd, heir to the throne of Aberwyn.Intent on rescuing him, his beloved Jill and the elven wizard Salamander infiltrate the distant land of Bardex, where Rhodry is held captive.Tied to Deverry by obligation and circumstance, the immortal wizard Nevyn begins to see that all the kingdom's problems can be traced to a single source: a master of dark magics, backed by a network of evil that stretches across the sea.Now Nevyn understands that he too is being lured away to Bardek--and into a subtle, deadly trap designed especially for him.

Katharine Kerr's novels of the Kingdom of Deverry unfold in a world of stunning richness and depth.Her vivid portrayal of characters caught in a complex web of fate and magic captures the imagination with a realism that few can match.Now she retums to this enchanted kingdom, where the wheels of destiny are tuming anew. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Act I draws to a close
This book is odd enough in the Deverry series in that in contains no "flashbacks". The entire story is told in linear fashion, following Jill and Salamander as they try to find and rescue Rhodry in the southern Bardekian archipelago. I admit this is somewhat of a disappointment for me, particularly since "Bristling Wood" introduced one of my favorite flashback storylines, and then left me hanging until Book 5 to pick it up again. Ah, well.

The story in the present picks up with a poor, confused, kidnapped Rhodry being sold into slavery in Bardek. (Kerr has indicated that the Bardekians are Hellenized Moors, but I don't quite buy it.) His kidnapper, a peon of the dark dweomermaster known as the Old One, has destroyed his memory, so he can't even get all Paris Hilton and yell "Do you know who I am?!?" because he doesn't know, either. Meanwhile, his lover Jill and his half-brother Salamander march resolutely down to Bardek to rescue him single-handedly. But even once they do (come on, you knew they would) there's still the Old One to worry about. Will Nevyn arrive in time to save them? Will Rhodry get his memory, and his inheritance, back? Will Jill kill Salamander before he starts to teach her dweomer? Stay tuned!

Again, this book is not my favorite in the series. Part of it is that the last third, when the forces of good track down the Old One, is disappointingly reminiscent of the showdown with Alastyr in Book 2. Part of it is the lack of storylines set in the past, as I mentioned above. And part of it is the way this section of the series wraps up. See, although the whole series stretches to (so far) 15 planned books, Kerr has divided it into several "acts," and "Dragon Revenant" is the final book in Act I. So by the end, she resolves quite a few characters' destinies and wraps up some storylines. And believe me, I completely understand and agree with the way she does it - but that doesn't mean I don't still want a happy ending! So intellectually, I appreciate the way this book ends, but emotionally, I'm sulking in the corner.

But you can't have everything. And never fear, (almost) all of our beloved characters will return again in "A Time of Exile," although perhaps not in the way we imagined. This book, while not the best in the series, is still a fantastic piece of work and one I highly recommend to serious fantasy fans everywhere.

Fourth of the Ten (currently) in the Series
For years the provinces of Deverry have been in turmoil; now the conflict escalates with the kidnapping of Rhodry Maelwaedd, heir to the throne of Aberwyn. Intent on rescuing him, his beloved Jill and the elven wizard Salamander infiltrate the distant land of Bardek, where Rhodry is held captive. Tied to Deverry by obligation and circumstance, the immortal wizard Nevyn begins to see that all the kingdom's problems can be traced to a single source: a master of dark magics, backed by a network of evil that stretches across the sea. Now Nevyn understands that he too is being lured to Bardek--and into a subtle, deadly trap designed especially for him.

Katherine Kerr's writing takes a bit of getting used to, but it's worth the effort. She approaches her stories with a Celtic storytelling mindset, which means she conveys events according to their significance to the story, as opposed to chronologically. Consequently, while the stories begin in the "present" (which is an elastic concept, anyway, in a fantasy setting), the events unfold, chapter wise, both in the "present" and in the distant past. This can be frustrating, at first, but Kerr's writing is heavily steeped in Pagan and Western Mystery tradition, and the Celtic setting (and mindset) of her characters means that time, or chronological time, is not essentially relevant. To be honest, I found the first book infuriating, as I spent a lot of time trying to adjust to the writing style. However, I found the story engrossing enough that I persevered, and by the second book was so hooked I've read all ten in her three series.

Kerr's story evolves around the concept of reincarnation, and unfinished business, and "karma", and fate. The same souls recur again and again, just in new bodies, over the course of the centuries over which the story unfolds.

Kerr's world is one of High Fantasy, populated by Elves, Men, and Dwarves, as well as faeries/elementals, which she terms the "Wildfolk". However, hers is a slightly more dark, dangerous and less clear cut world than the works of other High Fantasy authors, not the least due to the fact that someone who was your friend in a former life can re-emerge in the story centuries later as a foe, and vice versa. There is a tremendous amount of magic, but it's the magic of the Western Mystery tradition (quite a bit of Golden Dawn and even Enochiana), and that of R.J. Stewarts Faery tradition. There are dragons, and giant beast men.

The Elves are a fallen race, driven out of their magnificent and palatial cities centuries before by invaders, and who now roam the plains as primitives. They possess the potential to be superlative magicians, but the knowledge was lost in the fall of their civilization. Humans, though warlike and shorter lived, have preserved this knowledge, but guard it jealously. The Wildfolk, basically magic incarnate, are unhinged from the effects of "karma", but lack permanence of personality, and cannot grow or develop, cursed to stagnation. The Dwarves are a secretive mystery, entrenched within the earth. Each has something to offer the other, and the story that unfolds is the story of this "technology" exchange, of sorts, between them.

Fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley, who clearly influenced Kerr, will be enraptured by this series, as will fans of Kate Eliott, who Kerr, herself, clearly influenced. It's phenomenal! Devotees of the New Age, Esoteric or Occult will find themselves nodding and smiling as they read, and sincerely hoping Kerr's writing will do for the Western Mystery and Faery traditions what Bradley's has done for Wicca.

Captivating, well written, and detailed
As the 5th book in the Westlands novels, The Dragon Revenant introduces a number of new characters and plot twists. I enjoyed the ongoing connections between past characters that had played somewhat minor roles in previousbooks but that were reborn in this one. The evolving interplay between theelven population, the "round-ears", and the Guardians created newground for subsequent books and held my interest through the end. I can'twait to read the next book!

Not terrible, but Kerr can do way better...
Fans of Deverry might want to give me a beating here, but in my opinion- Kerr is definitely capable of better stuff. Until I got to this book, everything she put out amazed me. I even gave Bristling Wood 5 stars.Through out Dragon Revenant there were some traces of the Katherine Kerr Iknow and love- especially in the beginning and the end, but the middle (theentire portion that involved Rhodry as a slave) bored me and dragged outfor way too long. I kept waiting for Kerr to erupt into one of hertrademark flashback sequences- but was left hanging. I respect thepossibility that maybe she was bored of doing this, but I still want toknow how the Silver Dagger group's origin story turns out- a tale leftunfinished from the middle of the last book.

I have a confession tomake... Halfway through, I quite frankly gave up on this book and went on toread twelve other books. But for the first time in my life I resumedreading a book I had given up on- This was solely because of how much Ienjoyed her first three books, and my hope that the next few would be up toher usual par.

A few things did impress me here though. Salamander- avery interesting character is fleshed out for the first time. Kerr'sdialogue and Deverry's culture give her works a wonderful feel. I wouldhave enjoyed a grander resolution between Rhodry and his brother/enemyRhys, but the ending made the book worth while with several surprises and avery neat closure to the whole series. Or was this just a bridge? On toOmens and Exile for the answers I go. And I can't wait to get to DragonMage since I previewed the first chapter- looks exciting!

as good as the previous volumes`
Kerr has a good series going here. While I always seem to compare stories to my two personal favorite authors, Terry Goodkind and Robert Jordan, this series has definitely landed a close third on my list behind Goodkind. Ienjoy Celtic storylines and her characters do come to life well. It canslow down at times, but I am half way through and enjoy it. A book that Ilook forward to reading when I get home is a rare thing for me to find nowdays, and this series has supplied me with several. ... Read more

Product Description
The wild Northlands hold many secrets, among them the mysterious island of Haen Marn, the mountain settlements of Dwarveholt, and the fortified city of Cerr Cawnen. All three communities-and the alliance of humans, elves, and dwarves-are threatened by the religious fanaticism of the Horsekin. Only the magic of Dallandra and Valandario and the might of the powerful dragons, Arzosah and Rori, can save the Northlands from conquest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent Read
Katherine Kerr has done a superb job in evoking Galic lifestyles and mores.This latest entry in the history of Deverry stands up to all previous entries.I would recommend the series to anyone interested in fantasy.

Katherine Kerr's books
I have read this whole series and cannot wait for the final one to be published.Am a fan of dragon stories and this one from the original ones with Nevin are just brilliant and consuming.

Katherine Kerr is Fantastic
I absolutely love this series. I own a kindle and to be able to read them with such ease just makes my day. She is a great writer.

Katharine Kerr does it again
When I got the email from Amazon.com telling me that the latest book from Katharine Kerr was about to be published, I immediately pre-ordered it and then counted the days until it arrived.For the first few days I just studied every part of the cover, front, back, inside and out. Then I dove in and just a few days later I am about to finish.The Shadow Isle explores in more detail story threads started in earlier books.The characters have their flaws, they are so fleshed out, and have been over many years for some, that one can see real growth and development.This book is not filled with battles and dramatic magics, it takes a more leisurely pace to fill in gaps, and set the scene and to give us time to get to know more about the players. As usual my big problem with these books is that they are just not long enough, i.e. they end.I just want them to go on forever. Thank you Ms Kerr for never disappointing.

The saga continues . . . and builds again
My first reaction when seeing the note that The Shadowed Isle is not the last book in the great Deverry cycle was angst that I had to wait again for another book, then a great flood of relief, as I could not figure out how even the almighty Kit could have brought this series to a satisfactory ending in just one book after The Spirit Stone.

I wholeheartedly recommend the entire Deverry saga, and if you have not read them all, you are missing a great deal.It seems to me that DAW is trying to have the Silver Wyrm segment "stand alone" a bit, but that is practically impossible when you consider the lovely complexity of the entire set of works.The Shadow Isle is building up to another climax in a series that has already contained three impressive climaxes.Conflicts that span many lifetimes are coming to a head or being brought to a close, with new "knots" arriving in this novel that I certainly did not see coming, even having read and re-read every other book.

If you've read any of the other Deverry books, you already know you want this book - and probably pretty badly!If you have not read a Deverry book, start with Daggerspell and enjoy the journey.It's worth it. ... Read more

Product Description
While a dashing young king journeys to his throne in disguise, fulfilling an ancient prophecy, the exiled lord Rhodry travels anonymously as a mercenary. Reprint. PW. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

New twist on Sword and Sorcery
This book lies somewhere in the middle of a huge 16-book series.The books take place in some place like medieval England, but it's not really.There are elves, dwarves, "horsekin" (who are a race of bad guys), and the occasional dragon.The dragons help out the "good guys", but not always in politically correct ways.There is also a race of god-like beings that can travel between dimenions of different worlds.Some of these beings help the "good guys" and some help the "bad guys".

Oh, there is also magic, or "deowemer" as they call it. Only a few people have these magic skills and the ones that do must spend a long time practicing and studying to perfect those skills.There are people with deowemer in all the different groups which make the various interactions and battles to the death more interesting.Speaking of death, there is quite a bit.However, all the killing takes place face-to-face on foot or on horseback.

If you are looking for a long series of great "sword and sorcery" tales, you should consider this offering by Katharine Kerr.

Mainly the Time of Troubles, but also entertainers in Bardek
For those unfamiliar with the series, it is told in a nonlinear, braided style, alternating between the 'present day' with Jill and Rhodry, and various narrative threads in the past. Characters who fail to learn lessons in a current life are reborn to work through their problems until the souls involved finally get it *right* - so characters can die, and tragically, and only the magicians of the dweomer know that it ends nothing and solves nothing.

This volume picks up the thread of the Time of Troubles where _The Bristling Wood_ left off, and is continued in _The Red Wyvern_. In the present day, picking up a thread from _The Dragon Revenant_, Salamander has turned his talent for dweomer into a living as a stage magician in the Bardek archipelago; as a half-elf, he has a life long enough to search for the soul of his beloved wife, dead untimely of fever, until he finds her reincarnation. Alas, the dweomer can't just be turned on and off like a lightswitch, and he'll pay for his abandonment of his true calling someday if he doesn't look out.

In the time of troubles, Maryn, the young Marked Prince of Pyrdon, is being groomed by Nevyn as the high king who can bring the wars to a halt, since he has close blood ties to all the contending claims for the throne, except Cerrmor - and since Cerrmor's heir is Princess Bellyra, an unmarried girl of Maryn's own age, that's not a problem. Cerrmor is in dire straits, and will welcome Maryn as a suitor for Bellyra with open arms - if he can get there alive. (Bellyra, for her part, is intelligent enough to realize that he'll never love her; she's just what he needs for the kingdom's sovereignty, and maybe a friend and ally, but no more.)

Some followers of the dark dweomer attempted to work magic against Maryn by creating a curse tablet. Nevyn has managed to get hold of it, but daren't destroy it, discard it, or be caught with it while trying to unravel the spells on it without harming Maryn. (This thread eventually doubles back on itself, in Kerr's nonlinear, braided storytelling style, giving him the idea for creating the Great Stone of the West (the opposite of the curse tablet) which we saw back in volume 2, _Darkspell_.)

Be warned, the dark dweomer workers did something VILE to enchant the tablet - Nevyn finds the evidence with the tablet. Grisly. Also, while Maryn has been groomed to be a warrior's ideal of a king, he's not a saint (the silver daggers when in transit introduce him to a brothel, which actually turns into a hilarious if bawdy scene through no fault of Maryn's).

Bellyra, for her part, is not only intelligent, but unusually well-educated and intellectual, and will grow into a formidable political force if she survives the siege of Cerrmor. Like Maryn, she is one of the recurring characters being reincarnated at different stages in the history of the series. One of her incarnations appears in _A Time of Exile_, while both she and Maryn have been reborn late in the 'present' day.

I can't get enough of Deverry!
This was the first Deverry book I read, and I spent the summer of 1994 reading it. Then I spent the rest of 1994 reading all the previous volumes! Then it was time to read the next volume in the series, and then thenext...hopefully Katherine Kerr will never stop writing about Devrry!

An Excellent Book In An Outstanding Series.
I am surprised there are no other reviews of this book, as it is part of one of the truly outstanding series in fantasy fiction, and certainly deserving of some of the attention currently being heaped upon thecontemporaneous "World of Time" series by Jordan, or the recent"A Song of Ice and Fire" begun by Martin.While lacking in someof the richness of detail and characterization present in those works,nonetheless this series is deserving of serious attention by fans of thegenre.

Set within a celtic realm, Kerr's tale actually follows theinterwoven stories of several different characters spread across a timespan of several hundred years in the history of the Westlands.Somereaders used to the more conventional use of a linear plot may find thisdisconcerting, but Kerr has used it effectively and originally in evolvingher story over the past six books.The realms of Westlands are varied andrichly landscaped, and the mythology behind the world intriguing.The onlyflaw that prevented me from assigning 5 stars to this book was Kerr'ssketchy handling of Jill's time spent in Anmurdio, a problem similar tothose that plagued Kerr's first book, "Daggerspell." Nonetheless, a worthy successor to previous books in the series, anddefinately well worth the read.

One final note of complaint, directed atthe publisher:It would be helpful, for those of us with a geographicalbent, to provide maps of the Westlands with all of the books in the series. Since the second, book maps have been absent, except for a partial mapavailable in "The Dragon Revenant."Even more irritating is thelack of provision in certain books of a full and complete character listcovering at least the major characters in all six books.With all theshifts in plot line in time that take place, as well as the reappearance ofcertain characters in later books, it would be helpful to have this aid forone's memory. ... Read more

Product Description
A young boy and a blind bard, seeking the bard's lost brother through the fate-changing magic of Deverry, meet the mighty magician, Jill, and join the great conflict between gods and men. By the author of Daggerspell. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Sixth in the Ten Book (currently) Series
In the peaceful land of the Riddaer, Jahdo the ratcatcher's son stumbles upon a meeting between a city councilman and a dangerous, mysterious woman. Suddenly the boy is tangled in a web of intrigue and black magic that drags him far from his beloved home. In the company of Meer, a blind bard of the Horsekin, Jahdo must travel to Deverry to unravel the evil that binds him. Gut there the boy is caught up in dangers far greater than any he has ever known. Two powerful sorcerers--the human Jill and the elven Dallandra--are battling to save the country from a goddess gone mad. Their strongest ally is the mercenary soldier Rhodry Maelwaedd, a berserker bound to both women by fate and magic...and to the dragon upon whom all their lives may depend. For fantasy lovers who have never read the novels of Deverry before, Days of Blood and Fire is the place to begin.

Katherine Kerr's writing takes a bit of getting used to, but it's worth the effort. She approaches her stories with a Celtic storytelling mindset, which means she conveys events according to their significance to the story, as opposed to chronologically. Consequently, while the stories begin in the "present" (which is an elastic concept, anyway, in a fantasy setting), the events unfold, chapter wise, both in the "present" and in the distant past. This can be frustrating, at first, but Kerr's writing is heavily steeped in Pagan and Western Mystery tradition, and the Celtic setting (and mindset) of her characters means that time, or chronological time, is not essentially relevant. To be honest, I found the first book infuriating, as I spent a lot of time trying to adjust to the writing style. However, I found the story engrossing enough that I persevered, and by the second book was so hooked I've read all ten in her three series.

Kerr's story evolves around the concept of reincarnation, and unfinished business, and "karma", and fate. The same souls recur again and again, just in new bodies, over the course of the centuries over which the story unfolds.

Kerr's world is one of High Fantasy, populated by Elves, Men, and Dwarves, as well as faeries/elementals, which she terms the "Wildfolk". However, hers is a slightly more dark, dangerous and less clear cut world than the works of other High Fantasy authors, not the least due to the fact that someone who was your friend in a former life can re-emerge in the story centuries later as a foe, and vice versa. There is a tremendous amount of magic, but it's the magic of the Western Mystery tradition (quite a bit of Golden Dawn and even Enochiana), and that of R.J. Stewarts Faery tradition. There are dragons, and giant beast men.

The Elves are a fallen race, driven out of their magnificent and palatial cities centuries before by invaders, and who now roam the plains as primitives. They possess the potential to be superlative magicians, but the knowledge was lost in the fall of their civilization. Humans, though warlike and shorter lived, have preserved this knowledge, but guard it jealously. The Wildfolk, basically magic incarnate, are unhinged from the effects of "karma", but lack permanence of personality, and cannot grow or develop, cursed to stagnation. The Dwarves are a secretive mystery, entrenched within the earth. Each has something to offer the other, and the story that unfolds is the story of this "technology" exchange, of sorts, between them.

Fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley, who clearly influenced Kerr, will be enraptured by this series, as will fans of Kate Eliott, who Kerr, herself, clearly influenced. It's phenomenal! Devotees of the New Age, Esoteric or Occult will find themselves nodding and smiling as they read, and sincerely hoping Kerr's writing will do for the Western Mystery and Faery traditions what Bradley's has done for Wicca.

Good, even without the background
I found this book to be quite enjoyable, though I think that I would have liked it more if I had read the other books in the series. It stood on it's own rather well, but there were a few things that I didn't understand as well as I think I could have if I'd read the other books.

The only thing that really bothered me about this book was the name of the Sorceress. Jill just didn't fit in with the other names in the book, and the excuse that was given wasn't a very good one, or at least it wasn't to someone who had only read that book. It was alluded that there might have been a better explanation in another book, something to do with who her father was, but it was not satisfactory to me.

I did, however, find the characters to be vibrant and the plot to be engaging, so that little complaint really isn't much of a complaint at all. This was, I thought, a rather decent fantasy novel and if I stumble across more of her work, I will likely pick it up.

Quite entertaining
Whether or not you started with Daggerspell or if you have just recently started reading the works of Katharine Kerr, you should definately read this.I found the book entertaining with all the old characters mixed with the new and their wonderful skill at getting wound up in problems that seemto large to remedy.You get to see parts of her world that you do not seein the other books which is always exciting with this author.Shetransends into the world "high fantasy" well and the ending israther different from most of her others because it is sudden and leadsinto the next book.

Book Seven of an Outstanding Series
Similar to "The Dragon Revenant" Kerr again returns to a linear plot previously set up in "Time of Omens," again abandoning her usual interaction of stories set within differing time periods.Obviously by now I am an enthusiast of the tale and world begun in"Daggerspell" and would recommend fans of better fantasy fictiontake a look.Despite the positive response of the previous reviewer,however, Kerr's books are not written as stand-alones, and without theinformation provided by the earlier works, one's enjoyment of this bookwill be greatly limited.Despite the fact that it was the weakest book inthe series, start with "Daggerspell":By the time you reach"Days of Blood and Fire" I'm sure you'll conclude that theconsiderable time invested was enjoyably well spent.

I do however haveone reservation regarding this book:The introduction of a dragon.It maybe a personal quirk on my part, but rarely have I found the activeappearance of dragons in a tale either satisfying or credible.Oftenanthropomorphised in manner either typecast or silly - McCaffrey'sromanticized and laughable wyrms are but the most notable examples - theirinclusion as characters almost invariably fails to be convincing (At therisk of sacrilege I would include Tolkein's Smaug).Though the dragon hereis present for only a few pages, it is apparant that it will play a largerole in the next book, and it talks, which may not bode well for theconclusion of the series.Those of you who delight in clever wyrms, carryon.I will reserve final comment for completion of the next book.

This book is worth every cent.
This is the best fantasy book that I have ever read, and possibly one ofthe best books overall.Anyone who is a fantasy reader should definatelypick this one up.It kept me on the edge of my seat right up until theend, where I immediately ran out to pick up "Days of Air andDarkness" to find out how this chapter in the Deverry saga ended. Full of action, intrige, and emotion, this book is sure to give anyone agood read.I am about to order the rest of the series to see what else hasgone on. ... Read more

Product Description
Acclaimed author of the dazzling cycle of fantasy novels set in Deverry and the Westlands, Katharine Kerr continues her epic saga of humanity as a shift of power on the astral plane brings change to the world of men...

The city of Cengarn is under siege. Armies both astral and physical are massing for and against the goddess Alshandra, who seeks to prevent the birth of one fate-bound child. It falls to the dweomermaster Jill and her allies to protect the child's human mother, Princess Carra--and Deverry's already foretold future--by magic and by might. But as the warrior Rhodry wings toward the battle on dragonback, he cannot know that soon he will face his ancient enemy, Alshandra's high priestess Raena, who will use any means to destroy him. Their confrontation could turn the tide of the siege--and change the fate of Deverry forever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Seventh in the Ten Book (currently) Series
The city of Cengarn is under siege, with armies both astral and physical massing on opposite sides of the cause of the goddess Alshandra, who seeks to prevent the birth of one fate-bound child. It falls to the dweomermaster Jill and her allies to protect Princess Carra, the child's human mother, and more important, the future foreseen for Deverry by past masters of magic. But history is built on many a foundation: as the berserker Rhodry wings his way to the battle on dragonback, he is unaware that he will soon be meeting this fight on a more personal front. Lying in wait for him is Alshandra's high priestess Raena, a dangerous sorceress and Rhodry's ancient enemy, ready to use any means to destroy him. Their confrontation could turn the tide of the siege--and change the fate of Deverry forever....

Rhodry and his new dragon ally, Arzosah, have joined forces with the dwarven axemen and are rushing to the aid of the besieged town of Cengarn. Meanwhile, within the town walls, the Princess Carra--and her precious unborn child--is under the protection of the sorcerers Jill and Dallandra who eagerly await the arrival of their allies. But Cengarn's food supplies are beginning to wand and their chances for survival look bleak. They can only survive for so long...

And as time grows ever shorter the surrounding Horsekin army, under th einstruction of the goddess Alshandra, are preparing to end the siege once and for all.Only by destroying Alshandra can there ever be peace between Horsekin and humankind. But it seems an impossible task...

Katherine Kerr's writing takes a bit of getting used to, but it's worth the effort. She approaches her stories with a Celtic storytelling mindset, which means she conveys events according to their significance to the story, as opposed to chronologically. Consequently, while the stories begin in the "present" (which is an elastic concept, anyway, in a fantasy setting), the events unfold, chapter wise, both in the "present" and in the distant past. This can be frustrating, at first, but Kerr's writing is heavily steeped in Pagan and Western Mystery tradition, and the Celtic setting (and mindset) of her characters means that time, or chronological time, is not essentially relevant. To be honest, I found the first book infuriating, as I spent a lot of time trying to adjust to the writing style. However, I found the story engrossing enough that I persevered, and by the second book was so hooked I've read all ten in her three series.

Kerr's story evolves around the concept of reincarnation, and unfinished business, and "karma", and fate. The same souls recur again and again, just in new bodies, over the course of the centuries over which the story unfolds.

Kerr's world is one of High Fantasy, populated by Elves, Men, and Dwarves, as well as faeries/elementals, which she terms the "Wildfolk". However, hers is a slightly more dark, dangerous and less clear cut world than the works of other High Fantasy authors, not the least due to the fact that someone who was your friend in a former life can re-emerge in the story centuries later as a foe, and vice versa. There is a tremendous amount of magic, but it's the magic of the Western Mystery tradition (quite a bit of Golden Dawn and even Enochiana), and that of R.J. Stewarts Faery tradition. There are dragons, and giant beast men.

The Elves are a fallen race, driven out of their magnificent and palatial cities centuries before by invaders, and who now roam the plains as primitives. They possess the potential to be superlative magicians, but the knowledge was lost in the fall of their civilization. Humans, though warlike and shorter lived, have preserved this knowledge, but guard it jealously. The Wildfolk, basically magic incarnate, are unhinged from the effects of "karma", but lack permanence of personality, and cannot grow or develop, cursed to stagnation. The Dwarves are a secretive mystery, entrenched within the earth. Each has something to offer the other, and the story that unfolds is the story of this "technology" exchange, of sorts, between them.

Fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley, who clearly influenced Kerr, will be enraptured by this series, as will fans of Kate Eliott, who Kerr, herself, clearly influenced. It's phenomenal! Devotees of the New Age, Esoteric or Occult will find themselves nodding and smiling as they read, and sincerely hoping Kerr's writing will do for the Western Mystery and Faery traditions what Bradley's has done for Wicca.

A complex, addictive plot full of everything but the sink.
Katherine Kerr's superb descriptions and well-thought out story will always leave you hungering for more.You join all of Kerr's exquisite characters through their lives, whether it be in a far past life or their life 20 years ago.They make you wonder... what's going to happen to the characters next?The plot will make you gasp, shudder, and stay up until four thirty in the morning just... reading.I promise you -- buy this, and you won't regret it.I certainly didn't.This will make a GREAT addition to ANY book collection... even if you don't HAVE a book collection, get this one, I tell you!It's a MUST have!

good for re-reading
I got hooked on Kerr's novels years ago. I always find that the time between volumes is too long. Often I go back and re-read at least two or three previous volumes so I know where the new book fits in. But that's not all bad; they're great to read again and again! My one criticism is the lack of a list of complete character IDs and a timeline. Because Kerr uses lots of flashback, it's difficult sometimes to remember how the characters fit into the overall story. I read the latest (?) release: "The Red Wyvren" and was somewhat disappointed that she didn't make more progress in the most recent timeframe, but chose to emphasize a much earlier time. Does this mean that another volume will be released soon? I hope so.

Wonderful book -- I absolutly LOVED it!
This was my first book written by Katharine Kerr that I've *currently* read.Right now.. I'm clicking on almost every Kerr book on Amazon.com and putting them in my shopping cart -- does that tell you anything?

Katharine Kerr is the spiritual heir to J.R.R. Tolkien
Katharine Kerr's novels of Deverry and the Westlands form a Gordian Knot of love & hate, sorrow & joy, and death & rebirth. Set in abeautifully conceived fantasy world, complete with Dragons and Dweomer,these novels drew me in the same way Tolkien's Hobbit, Lord of the Rings,and Silmarillion still draw me back every couple of years. Unfortuanately,there are also a few slow points , (just as with Tolkien), but they don'tlast for long. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Disappointed
I've collected fantasy books for years and had this title on my shelf for a long time. I picked it up recently as I've never read any of Katharine's books before. This book does not stand alone. I found myself lost with a lot of words/ideas that must have been explained in previous volumes. A little hint here and there would have helped. Her characters are developed well enough, but are still lacking. I don't read fantasy novels to hear about abortion and I have no idea what would possess an author to insert current hot topic politics into a fantasy novel. Reading about it ripped me out of the story and brought me back into present day. It was disappointing. I had high hopes for this book but have read much better. The writing style is all over the place and not in a good way.I won't be picking up the first of the series or any other of Kerr's work. To those of you who love her books, I'm glad. Just not my style I guess.

Disappointing
I really enjoyed the first book in the series, in large part because of its sense of moral ambiguity.There were no "good guys" and "bad guys", just people, most of them flawed, trying to live their lives.

Then I started reading the rest of the series, and it's a hackneyed series of battles between Good and Evil, interspersed with gratuitous sex scenes.What happened?

One thing that happened is that Amazon saw my five-star rating on that first book and keeps trying to get me to buy the rest of the series.Hopefully entering some lower ratings will dissuade it.

Exciting adventures in any century!
In the third book of the Deverry series, Kerr once again continues the pattern of introducing characters in the present by exploring their lives in the past. "The Bristling Wood," in fact, brings us to the second major arc in the series, a timeline set about two hundred years before the events occurring in the "present" - that is, the time when Jill and Rhodry are riding the long road in and out of danger.

In the past, the civil wars over the kingship of Deverry are dragging on, with disastrous consequences for the kingdom. A frustrated Nevyn finally decides, after some inspiration from a disgraced bard named Maddyn (Rhodry), to take a hand in things and just pick a king and place him on the throne, already. Using dweomer, he'll find a candidate - any candidate - and build him up with omens and glamours until everyone accepts him as the obvious true king of all Deverry. Maddyn, meanwhile, falls in with a band of mercenaries who will one day form the basis for the silver daggers, and whose ranks include the reincarnated forms of Gerraent/Cullyn and Brangwen/Jill - although in some cases, those forms are completely unexpected ones.

In the present, a bizarre set of circumstances manage to separate Rhodry and Jill, just as the dark dweomer and political necessity both decide they need to get their hands on Rhodry, toot sweet. Jill is ensorcelled by a strange being named Perryn, and his story is one that, disappointingly, offers so much promise that Kerr never quite fulfills. (The same is true with Rhodda, about whom more in a later review.) Nevyn can't help, because he's stuck back in Aberwyn helping Rhodry's mother get him recalled from exile, so it's up to Rhodry's half-elven, dilettante-dweomer brother, Salamander, to rescue Jill. But then there's Rhodry, wandering around Deverry all alone - who's going to find him first?

While the present part of the story here isn't quite my favorite, I love the section set in the past. Maddyn, Maryn, Owaen, Caradoc, and Branoic are truly enjoyable characters, and their story is one of the strongest in the whole series. Moreover, it's one of those places where you can really see how events in the past are shaping relationships in the present. Overall, the writing is fantastic, although Kerr does have a few tics that can get annoying. I love this series, and this book is worthy of continuing it.

One of my favorite fantasy series
I have been a fan of Kerr since I was a teenager.I adore her books and her writing.I love the way she does interweave the lifetimes together.Very refreshing.

The main reason I wanted to review this book was in response to a comment stating that they did not understand why Nevyn was punished so harshly for such a paltry sin.I think they misunderstood.He is not being punished, he made a vow.He vowed to bring Brangwen to the dweomar, no matter how long it took.The gods of Wyrd accepted his vow and granted him an unusually long life to see it through.

I think if people took the time to actually read and not skim, they might actually understand what is going on and be able to enjoy it.

Third of the Ten (currently) in the Series
Against the passionate sweep of Deverrian history, the powerful wizard Nevyn has lived for centuries, atoning for the sins he committed in his youth. Now, with so much of his work at stake, Nevyn discovers that the Dark Council has been quietly interfering with the already tangled politics of war-torn Eldidd. Their evil webs are nearly spun before Nevyn, with all the power at his command, even realizes there's a war of magic destroying his world.

Katherine Kerr's writing takes a bit of getting used to, but it's worth the effort. She approaches her stories with a Celtic storytelling mindset, which means she conveys events according to their significance to the story, as opposed to chronologically. Consequently, while the stories begin in the "present" (which is an elastic concept, anyway, in a fantasy setting), the events unfold, chapter wise, both in the "present" and in the distant past. This can be frustrating, at first, but Kerr's writing is heavily steeped in Pagan and Western Mystery tradition, and the Celtic setting (and mindset) of her characters means that time, or chronological time, is not essentially relevant. To be honest, I found the first book infuriating, as I spent a lot of time trying to adjust to the writing style. However, I found the story engrossing enough that I persevered, and by the second book was so hooked I've read all ten in her three series.

Kerr's story evolves around the concept of reincarnation, and unfinished business, and "karma", and fate. The same souls recur again and again, just in new bodies, over the course of the centuries over which the story unfolds.

Kerr's world is one of High Fantasy, populated by Elves, Men, and Dwarves, as well as faeries/elementals, which she terms the "Wildfolk". However, hers is a slightly more dark, dangerous and less clear cut world than the works of other High Fantasy authors, not the least due to the fact that someone who was your friend in a former life can re-emerge in the story centuries later as a foe, and vice versa. There is a tremendous amount of magic, but it's the magic of the Western Mystery tradition (quite a bit of Golden Dawn and even Enochiana), and that of R.J. Stewarts Faery tradition. There are dragons, and giant beast men.

The Elves are a fallen race, driven out of their magnificent and palatial cities centuries before by invaders, and who now roam the plains as primitives. They possess the potential to be superlative magicians, but the knowledge was lost in the fall of their civilization. Humans, though warlike and shorter lived, have preserved this knowledge, but guard it jealously. The Wildfolk, basically magic incarnate, are unhinged from the effects of "karma", but lack permanence of personality, and cannot grow or develop, cursed to stagnation. The Dwarves are a secretive mystery, entrenched within the earth. Each has something to offer the other, and the story that unfolds is the story of this "technology" exchange, of sorts, between them.

Fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley, who clearly influenced Kerr, will be enraptured by this series, as will fans of Kate Eliott, who Kerr, herself, clearly influenced. It's phenomenal! Devotees of the New Age, Esoteric or Occult will find themselves nodding and smiling as they read, and sincerely hoping Kerr's writing will do for the Western Mystery and Faery traditions what Bradley's has done for Wicca.
... Read more

Product Description
"Prepare to get lost in the magic" (VOYA) of Katharine Kerr's newest Deverry fantasy.

The Horsekin are assembling along Prince Dar's northern border, and the Deverry alliance simply does not have the men and resources to prevent their enemies from moving into the wilderness areas known as the Ghostlands. But suddenly, the Dwrgi folk and the dragons come to Dar's aid, tipping the balance in their favor and offering Dar's people a chance to defeat the Horsekin once and for all.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

not the best finish to a long series
I enjoyed reading this series, but this book did not nicely finish the series for me.

A great series by Katherine Kerr and Wonderful assitance from Amazon
This series is one of the most intriging series I have read in some time.It has been due to Amazon and its distributors that I have been able to purchase twelve of Ms Kerr's books.One I had to purchase from England. The first one I bought in a library sale some 20 years ago.I love Amazon, it has never let me down.Thank you for all the help.C.I. Deuel

a great read


A great book to read sitting in front of a blazing fire on a cold winters evening.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found it very difficult to put down. To my mind it
was the best book in this series, adding a new dimension to all the previous characters.
Knowing some of the characters in the previous books it was tantalising watching their
personalites develop in this book. One felt as if one was actually withing the pages of
the book.

A wonderful painting in words
In the Magical world of Deverry, war has broken out. The
humans and their allies, the elves, are realizing that the
fate of the Northlands is in their hands. The evil army of
the Horsekin continue to try to convert the denizens of
Deverry with any means possible, even deadly force. In
order to stop the powerful Horsekin army, the magic of the
elven Wise Ones, such as Dallandra and Valandario, and the
help of the dragons, Arzoash and Rori,can possible defeat
the crusaiding army. But at what cost? Will Rori, a man in
a dragon's body, ever be freed?

The Silver Mage, by
Katharine Kerr, is the exciting ending to the entire
Deverry saga, which fans of this series will enjoy
immensely.

The Silver Mage, by Katharine Kerr and her
world of Deverry is a wonderful fantasy, but hard to
follow. In the Silver Mage, you are immediately thrust into
the middle of a war and you hardly get to realize who is
the main character. There is many character names and view
points that are thrown at you that can get confusing at
times. I wouldn't suggest this book as a way to start
reading the Deverry saga. It is also hard to visualize the
layout of the story (previous books in this saga probably
describe Deverry more indepth than The Silver Mage does).
Although, when Kerr writes about the way that Dweomer
(magic) is used, she creates a wonderful painting in words.
The way she describes magic makes it seem real to the
reader. With an overall view of the Silver Mage, it was
well written and a good conclusion to the Deverry saga. It
left no loose ends and ended happily. A very good book
overall. One more thing, there are no chapters in The
Silver Mage, only parts and symbols that start the
beginning of a different section. Very confusing at times
but it was a decent way of breaking up the
information.

Reviewed by a young adult student reviewer
Flamingnet Book Reviews
Teen books reviewed by teen reviewers

Fast action and tension contribute to an outstanding fantasy's conclusion
THE SILVER MAGE represents Book Four of The Silver Wyrm series and concludes the entire Deverry saga: thus is especially recommended for libraries finding the prior Deverry titles popular lends. Here the Horsekin are assembling along Dar's northern border when the Dwrgi folk and dragons come to Dar's aid, tipping the balance in their favor. Fast action and tension contribute to an outstanding fantasy's conclusion. ... Read more

Product Description
A revised edition of the spellbinding novel finds the wizard Nevyn powerless to protect exiled Prince Rhodry and his lover, the swordswoman Jill, from the malevolent dark masters weaving terrifying spells against them and dispatching messengers of death. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

The twisted tangle of wyrd continues
As with all books that begin a series, Katharine Kerr spent a lot of time in "Daggerspell" just introducing us to her characters and the land of Deverry. In "Darkspell," she's able to relax a little bit, letting us get to know Jill, Rhodry, and the rest of the characters rather than simply sort out what role they play. As a result, I found "Darkspell" even more enjoyable, and ultimately more representative of the series as a whole.

In the present, Jill and Rhodry are riding the long road as exiles from the court of Rhodry's vindictive brother. Unfortunately, the dweomer - both light and dark - has marked these two, and they quickly find themselves drawn once again into the middle of a battle they can barely even begin to understand. Luckily, the ancient dweomermaster Nevyn is along to pull their stones out of the fire, although he of course has an ulterior motive - to bring Jill to her true power in the dweomer and thus fulfill a centuries-old vow so he can die, already.

Boom! Cut to the past. Adding another column to her table of incarnations, Kerr gives us Jill as a berserker priestess of the Warrior Goddess, with Rhodry as her loyal but spineless lieutenant and Cullyn (disappointingly absent in the present incarnation) as the arrogant lord who wants her to break her vows of celibacy. I should note that the one quibble I have with Rhodry and Cullyn's past lives is that they bear very little resemblance to their current characters. Even Jill, and her many incarnations, have nothing in common with the original Brangwen. It doesn't hurt the story any, it just irks me. Anyway. I enjoyed this episode even better than the two described in "Daggerspell" - it just seemed more rich, more fraught with tension and danger. It also gives us some history that's going to be muy importante later, so pay attention.

We meet some interesting new characters this time around, who will become integral in later books - Blaen, Rhodry's cousin, and Salamander, his half-elven brother, in particular. There are a couple villains, more well-defined than the nebulous forces of darkness arrayed against our heroes in "Daggerspell." All of this combines to make "Darkspell" a more personal story, one that deeply invests us in the many lives of its characters. We are starting to see the outlines of the grand arc of the series here, the pattern which these many characters will weave over the course of their multiple lifetimes. Readers who found "Daggerspell" too confusing and distant should stick it out for at least this one sequel; I guarantee that most of you will enjoy it even more.

Not as good as the first one.
Something I really liked about the first book ("Daggerspell") was how the characters weren't divided into "heroes" and "villains". There were only humans, imperfect, flawed, but trying to do the right thing, some with more success than others.

Thus I was rather disappointed when I bought this book and WHAM, Nevyn was a saint and the enemy was consorting with the Lords of Darkness themselves.Where did that come from?

Second of the Ten (currently) available
On the long roads of Deverry ride two mercenaries whose fates lie hidden deep in that of their land. But Lord Rhodry, exiled from the dragon court of Aberwyn, has yet to discover his true parentage, and his swordmaster-lover, Jill, has barely glimpsed her awesome powers. Meanwhile, the ancient sorcerer Nevyn, held back by his vows from boldly intervening in their lives, can only watch and wait as Rhodry and Jill move ever closer to danger. For as the two struggle to recover the Great Stone, the mystic jewel that guides the conscience of the kingship of Deverry, malevolent dark masters are weaving terrifying spells against them--and dispatching messengers of death. Inextricably bound to the fate of the land, Nevyn, Rhodry, and Jill struggle to unite the humans of Deverry with the powerful, mysterious, and once-hostile race of Elves. But theirs is a bold and dangerous venture that soon is undearthed by the sinister sorcerers of Annwn. These malevolent magicians know all too well that the joining of the two races--together with their mystical powers--will ultimately destroy their evil empire. In an uneasy alliance of dark forces, the sorcerers strike out to stop the union. And now, it is up to Nevy, the ancient and cunning wizard, to find a way to save his comrades and the destiny of Deverry...if only he himself can survive the wrath of Annwn's deadly magic.

Katherine Kerr's writing takes a bit of getting used to, but it's worth the effort. She approaches her stories with a Celtic storytelling mindset, which means she conveys events according to their significance to the story, as opposed to chronologically. Consequently, while the stories begin in the "present" (which is an elastic concept, anyway, in a fantasy setting), the events unfold, chapter wise, both in the "present" and in the distant past. This can be frustrating, at first, but Kerr's writing is heavily steeped in Pagan and Western Mystery tradition, and the Celtic setting (and mindset) of her characters means that time, or chronological time, is not essentially relevant. To be honest, I found the first book infuriating, as I spent a lot of time trying to adjust to the writing style. However, I found the story engrossing enough that I persevered, and by the second book was so hooked I've read all ten in her three series.

Kerr's story evolves around the concept of reincarnation, and unfinished business, and "karma", and fate. The same souls recur again and again, just in new bodies, over the course of the centuries over which the story unfolds.

Kerr's world is one of High Fantasy, populated by Elves, Men, and Dwarves, as well as faeries/elementals, which she terms the "Wildfolk". However, hers is a slightly more dark, dangerous and less clear cut world than the works of other High Fantasy authors, not the least due to the fact that someone who was your friend in a former life can re-emerge in the story centuries later as a foe, and vice versa. There is a tremendous amount of magic, but it's the magic of the Western Mystery tradition (quite a bit of Golden Dawn and even Enochiana), and that of R.J. Stewarts Faery tradition. There are dragons, and giant beast men.

The Elves are a fallen race, driven out of their magnificent and palatial cities centuries before by invaders, and who now roam the plains as primitives. They possess the potential to be superlative magicians, but the knowledge was lost in the fall of their civilization. Humans, though warlike and shorter lived, have preserved this knowledge, but guard it jealously. The Wildfolk, basically magic incarnate, are unhinged from the effects of "karma", but lack permanence of personality, and cannot grow or develop, cursed to stagnation. The Dwarves are a secretive mystery, entrenched within the earth. Each has something to offer the other, and the story that unfolds is the story of this "technology" exchange, of sorts, between them.

Fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley, who clearly influenced Kerr, will be enraptured by this series, as will fans of Kate Eliott, who Kerr, herself, clearly influenced. It's phenomenal! Devotees of the New Age, Esoteric or Occult will find themselves nodding and smiling as they read, and sincerely hoping Kerr's writing will do for the Western Mystery and Faery traditions what Bradley's has done for Wicca.

Still coherent, and some nice moments
Still some nice things running in this series. Kerr's reincarnation structure gives her the freedom to run off into `new' self-contained stories within the one larger story: they still relate to (particularly with the continuity of Nevyn) and shape `current' events, but give the satisfaction of some internal resolution. Half this volume is devoted to a virtual novella set three-hundred years prior, and Kerr has the fun of yet again playing out her basic characters with a few intriguing alternatives - very much the parallel universe feel. I found the Gweniver-Dannyn-Ricyn incarnation more potent than the attached `main' storyline, which was OK, sort of a drug-dealer whodunit, but not as enjoyable. Besides, I always hate it when charismatic heroes go broody, and hopefully Rhodry will be able to make his peace with his lowered status and make better company in the next book.

I didn't enjoy it as much as Daggerspell, but she's hardly dropped the ball here, and the form she's running with is still coherent and satisfying. Some things are potentially worrying - getting the balance right so Nevyn doesn't find everything too easy (cf. Belgareth), but can still bring justice and some impressive majesty (cf. Gandalf): it is nice that she doesn't have him being too coy about his powers if need be. I think she overuses the flashes of `dweomer-cold' that so many characters inexplicably have: sure you can have magic, but it's not as satisfying if it can just be inserted randomly - it should cost something and work within its own suspension of disbelief parameters/logic - in other ways it does in this series.

Almost, but not quite
This is the first Katherine Kerr novel I've read and I generally enjoyed it.She is a solid storyteller with no real weaknesses apparent in this book.She has a knack for creating memorable characters with credible motivations.The world she has invented is very well imagined and thoroughly integrated.The way in which magic functions in this world is very interesting.I also liked the ideas behind the Deverry religion.Kerr has obviously spent some time researching Welsh culture and history, and it has served her well here.The idea of a race or society from our world being transported part-and-parcel to another is a popular one in fantasy fiction, but it does provide for a believable background to the story.On the whole, I found the book to be quite engaging.

The only thing preventing me from giving this book four (or more) stars is a strange underlying current of homophobia.The only gay characters are a pair of evil sorcerers who use rape to generate power and their sniveling victim.On at least two occasions, one of the main characters even reacts to the very idea of homosexuality with horror and disgust, leaving the reader to wonder where the author stands on the issue.I'm not saying that a book can't have a gay villain, of course, but with these characters, Kerr almost seems to make their sexuality part and parcel of their evil.As it is, however, it's as if someone had written a cop drama in which the only black or Hispanic character in the whole story was the violent murderer.

If you can get past this small detail, or if such things don't bother you as much as they do me, you should enjoy this novel. ... Read more

Product Description
The world of Deverry: an intricate tapestry of fate, past lives, and unfathomable magic. With A Time Of Exile, Katharine Kerr opens new territory in The Deverry Saga, exploring the history of the Elcyion Lacar, the elves who inhabit the country west of Deverry. It is years since the half-elven Lord Rhodry took the throne of Aberwyn. When Rhodry's lost lover, Jill-now a powerful wizard-comes to Aberyn and tells him it's time he accepted his elven heritage, Rhodry faces the most difficult choice of his life. But with Jill's help and that of a human wizard named Aderyn who has lived for years in the westlands, Rhodry begins to understand how his life is connected not just to his own people, but to the Elcyion Lacar as well. At last, destiny begins to unravel its secrets, revealing Aderyn's true purpose among the elves-and the god' deeper design behind Rhodry's dual heritage.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Great series
This is the first book that I read in the Deverry series. I've been reading the rest completely out of order which, given the way that this series is written hasn't been much of a problem for me. Somehow, as a big fan of fantasy I missed this series. It's been a delightful discovery.

Go West, young Rhodry!
In contrast to the previous book, "The Dragon Revenant," which took place entirely in the 'present,' "A Time of Exile" takes places almost entirely in the past. Moreover, it skips pretty far back in time, to events we've already seen from Nevyn's perspective, and tells us what was happening in the Westlands at that time. This is the real start of the weaving of timelines; up until now, the flashbacks have been fairly linear. Now we're jumping all over the place, and all over the map, too. I happen to love this; I can understand, however, if some people give up in hopeless confusion.

We open about forty years after the close of "Revenant," which had Rhodry inheriting the powerful title of Gwerbret of Aberwyn and Jill leaving to study dweomer with Nevyn - the culmination of her destiny, and the fulfillment of Nevyn's 400-year-old vow. Now, however, Rhodry's secret half-elven blood threatens to betray him. An aged Jill returns and tells him point blank that he must leave Aberwyn before his semi-eternal youth gives him away. Reluctantly, Rhodry takes up the silver dagger again and follows Jill west to the lands of his father.

There they meet Aderyn, the human dweomermaster who has lived most of his life with the elves. And from there, we jump back to Aderyn's early apprenticeship with Nevyn, his destiny with the elves, his love affair with the powerful elven dweomermaster Dallandra (who will return later), and the birth of his son, Loddlaen, who if you remember started all the trouble that brought Jill and Rhodry together way back in "Daggerspell." See how it all starts to fit together? We also get several more of Rhodry's past lives, in which we see the pattern emerge of an ordinary man whose life seems destined to always become entangled with, and often ruined by, the dweomer.

After the somewhat pale "Revenant," I found this installment in the series to be a bracing, complex breath of fresh air. I love seeing known events from a new perspective; I love the insight we get into the elves and their way of life. (Anyone else notice that they seem to be based heavily on Native American culture? Just curious.) As the start to the second act of the Deverry series, "A Time of Exile" is a wonderful portent of what's to come.

Fifth of the Ten (currently available) Book Series
The world of Deverry: an intricate tapestry of fate, past lives, and unfathomable magic. With A Time of Exile, Katharine Kerr opens hew territory in the Deverry saga, exploring the history of the Elcyion Lacar, the elves who inhabit the country west of Deverry. It is years since the half-elven Lord Rhodry took the throne of Aberwyn. When Rhodry's lost lover, Jill--now a powerful wizard-- comes to Aberwyn and tells him it's time e accepted his elven heritage, Rhodry faces the most difficult choice of this life.

But with Jill's help and that of a human wizard named Aderyn who has lived for years in the Westlands, Rhodry begins to understand how his life is connected not just to his own people, but to the Elcyion Lacar as well. At last, destiny begins to unravel its secrets, revealing Aderyn's true purpose among the elves--and the gods' deeper design behind Rhodry's dual heritage.

In Deverry the volatile history of humanity continues as a dashing young king journeys to his throne in disguise, fulfilling ancient prophecy. In the Westlands the exiled lord Rhodry travels anonymously as a silver dagger--a mercenary--as he did in his youth, following a destiny that will take him from the grassy plains of the elven peoples to the hills and towns of Deverry, where dark forces are gathering. And from the shadowy land of the Guardians come omens, ill-defined and mysterious, that seem to point the way toward cataclysmic war...

It charts the progress of the Deverry civil wars during the ninth century, and especially focuses on the return of the true king--Maryn--to dun Cerrmor and his marriage to teh young Bellyra; of Rhodry's adventurings as a silver dagger during the wars; and of the strange talisman entrusted to his keeping. And we meet once more the seductive and infuriating Salamander as he searches for and finds a lost love; and witness the beginning of Jill's search for the lost elves of the Southern Isles.

Katherine Kerr's writing takes a bit of getting used to, but it's worth the effort. She approaches her stories with a Celtic storytelling mindset, which means she conveys events according to their significance to the story, as opposed to chronologically. Consequently, while the stories begin in the "present" (which is an elastic concept, anyway, in a fantasy setting), the events unfold, chapter wise, both in the "present" and in the distant past. This can be frustrating, at first, but Kerr's writing is heavily steeped in Pagan and Western Mystery tradition, and the Celtic setting (and mindset) of her characters means that time, or chronological time, is not essentially relevant. To be honest, I found the first book infuriating, as I spent a lot of time trying to adjust to the writing style. However, I found the story engrossing enough that I persevered, and by the second book was so hooked I've read all ten in her three series.

Kerr's story evolves around the concept of reincarnation, and unfinished business, and "karma", and fate. The same souls recur again and again, just in new bodies, over the course of the centuries over which the story unfolds.

Kerr's world is one of High Fantasy, populated by Elves, Men, and Dwarves, as well as faeries/elementals, which she terms the "Wildfolk". However, hers is a slightly more dark, dangerous and less clear cut world than the works of other High Fantasy authors, not the least due to the fact that someone who was your friend in a former life can re-emerge in the story centuries later as a foe, and vice versa. There is a tremendous amount of magic, but it's the magic of the Western Mystery tradition (quite a bit of Golden Dawn and even Enochiana), and that of R.J. Stewarts Faery tradition. There are dragons, and giant beast men.

The Elves are a fallen race, driven out of their magnificent and palatial cities centuries before by invaders, and who now roam the plains as primitives. They possess the potential to be superlative magicians, but the knowledge was lost in the fall of their civilization. Humans, though warlike and shorter lived, have preserved this knowledge, but guard it jealously. The Wildfolk, basically magic incarnate, are unhinged from the effects of "karma", but lack permanence of personality, and cannot grow or develop, cursed to stagnation. The Dwarves are a secretive mystery, entrenched within the earth. Each has something to offer the other, and the story that unfolds is the story of this "technology" exchange, of sorts, between them.

Fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley, who clearly influenced Kerr, will be enraptured by this series, as will fans of Kate Eliott, who Kerr, herself, clearly influenced. It's phenomenal! Devotees of the New Age, Esoteric or Occult will find themselves nodding and smiling as they read, and sincerely hoping Kerr's writing will do for the Western Mystery and Faery traditions what Bradley's has done for Wicca.

Rhodry Maelwaedd's first death & the silver dagger's return
This volume is the first of the Westlands group, but Kerr's nonlinear braided storytelling style loops back and forth in time to resolve mysteries left open from volumes 1 (DAGGERSPELL) and 3 (THE BRISTLING WOOD).

Rhodry, being not only half-elven but lucky enough to have lived through his battles, has reached an age where his long-lived elven heritage is beginning to show: he's still in his prime, and people are beginning to talk. Jill, now a dweomermaster in her own right, confronts him with the need to fake his own death and leave Deverry, rather than have the truth about his right to Aberwyn (or rather, lack thereof) come out. (Nevyn, having fulfilled his ancient vow, finally passed on to his next life.) The best place for Rhodry to go is to his father's people out on the grasslands, leading to Kerr's first detailed treatment of the Elcyon Lacar, known as 'elves', and fulfilling the prophecy that he would die twice.

Apart from the 'present', with Rhodry, the main thread follows Aderyn. Naturally enough, when the elven kingdoms of the far west and south were destroyed by the Hordes, driving the elves out into the grasslands, they lost nearly everything, including much of their knowledge of dweomer. Aderyn, as a human apprentice passing his final dweomer test, was given a destiny to travel west and 'make restitution'. (This picks up a thread from THE BRISTLING WOOD).

We finally see the beginnings of things: how Aderyn's son, Loddlaen, began to go wrong, leading much later to the events in DAGGERSPELL (and even how the ruined fortress out on the edge of the grasslands came to be there). We meet the Guardians for the first time, one of whom first got the dwarven silver ring from Rhodry's then-current incarnation, only to give it back a few generations later when it was needed.

Nevyn really wasn't lying about 'a trace of elven blood in the Maelwaedds'; upon his first return to Deverry from Bardek after Maryn's death, he travels to Cannobaen, the Maelwaedds' home, to begin creating what will later be the Great Stone of the West. (For the stone's fate, see DARKSPELL; for where Nevyn got the idea, follow the thread of the Time of Troubles, which begins in THE BRISTLING WOOD).

We also see how matters were finally resolved between Maddyn and Bellyra: not in those incarnations during the Time of Troubles, but after their rebirths and next meeting in Cannobaen. As for Rhodry's current incarnation, now that he's out on the grasslands, some incidents from past lives are beginning to crop up, and Aderyn fears he may think to ask the question nobody should ask about death unless they're ready to face the dweomer...

Not All Smoke and Mirrors
Although I've read all of the Deverry series books that were published, this was the first in the series I ever read.

I was raised on C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia and later discovered for myself Tolkien's TheHobbit and The Lord of the Rings.I still remember the evening seven yearsago when I opened A Time of Exile and read the prologue about the dwarvensmith.I knew from the style and the tone that this was a work of somescope and that I had to decide then and there to follow the series or givethis book away and forget the whole thing.

I've followed the seriesthrough and have not been disappointed.No other modern author of fantasyhas had the ability to hold my attention for so long.There is a feelingof authenticity in every concept that is brought to our attention.Wefeel, truly, the joy and anguish of the main characters.We chortle madlywith Rhodry when the berserk rage takes hold of him, and feel Lilli'sdespair and guilt about Maryn.And yes, we share the tedium of long seavoyages.Other authors have been flayed for less.

I am, admittedly, avery slow reader.I linger over passages and often have to put a book downto let what has transpired in the past few pages sink in.An averagepaperback novel will take me a few months to finish; it took me about threeweeks to finish The Black Wyvern.

One can recognize that certain passagesin the Deverry series are borrowed from pop culture; a scene from the movieLawnmower Man and the Battle of Agincourt to name two.But where othersmight be accused of plagiarism, Ms. Kerr manages to pull it off and weavesthem elegantly into her tapestry and keep us waiting hungrily for more. ... Read more

Product Description
Elven prince Dar has called upon his allies, the dwarven folk of the Northern mountains and the human men of Deverry in the East, to take arms against their mutual enemy, the fanatical Horsekin, whose imminent invasion of the Westlands will place the entire realm in danger... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Spirit Stone: The Silver Wyrn
I would like to know why this book and several others in this series have not been made available on Kindle. I won't buy this series until I can get the complete series. Daggerspell, and Bristling Wood are the other two that are not available on Kindle.

Good series, but...
While I found the entire series to be well written and highly entertaining, the one thing I do not like is the way Ms Kerr jumps back and forth in time.She justifies this by comparing the series to a Celtic knot, which winds back and forth across itself.Celtic knots or no, a cord unravels in the same way it was woven.While the past/present style has lots to recommend it, Mr Kerr takes it to extremes, moving back and forth frequently in each book, over a period of 400+ years, all while expecting the reader to be able to keep track of re-occurring characters in their many reincarnations and situations.It's a daunting task, and not one that makes for easy reading.And that task is made even more difficult by errors in her table of reincarnated personalities that is in each book.

Once I had the entire series, I went thru each book, marked each section with it's time frame, then re-read the entire series in chronological order.My, how much better that was!

Excellent Continuation
If you are looking to get into this series, I wouldn't recommend this book as a first, but that is the only reason why I didn't give it a 5.It would be like reading the second half of Tolkien's Two Towers.Without reading the summery.Start with Daggerspell, the first book of the series.If you are willing to put the time into this series, it is excellent, richly coloured, well-written, and complex.The Spirit Stone is another from Kerr's mould.One extra positive is that the characters in The Spirit Stone are mostly established ones.

Extremely spellbinding
All of these books in this series (and I have read them all) are absolutely spellbinding.You are on the edge of your seat waiting for the next episode.Well written and extremely exciting. ... Read more

Product Description
Even as a young girl,Jill was a favorite of the magical, mysteriousWildfolk, who appeared to her from their invisiblerealm. Little did she know her extraordinaryfriends represented but a glimpse of a forgotten pastand a fateful future. Four hundred years-and manylifetimes-ago, one selfish young lord caused thedeath of two innocent lovers. Then and there hevowed never to rest until he'd rightened thatwrong-and laid the foundation for the lives of Jilland all those whom she would hold dear: herfather, the mercenary soldier Cullyn; the exiledberserker Rhodry Maelwaedd; and the ancient andpowerful herbman Nevyn, all bound in a struggle againstdarkness. . . and a quest to fulfill thedestinies determined centuries ago. Here in this newlyrevised edition comes the incredible novel thatbegan one of the best-loved fantasy seers in recentyears--a tale of bold adventure and timelesslove, perilous battle and pure magic. Forlong-standing fans of Deverry and those who have yet toexperience this exciting series,Daggerspell is a rare and special treat. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (56)

Brilliant!
As a fan of fantasy novels, it's hard to find a book that doesn't sound like it was contrived from a dozen others. This book is not only refreshing but original in it's threads of lifetimes and characters.Katherine Kerr bravely explores the idea of karma and one person's actions echoing throughout several generations, and she handles it with thought provoking storytelling.

The characters are full and realistic, and I was so relieved to at least find a female lead who was neither manipulative and whiny, as seems to be the standard woman in fantasy novels, nor was she Xena warrior princess.Jill is intelligent, strong, and yet distinctly feminine.

For once the good guys are the interesting, likable characters instead of falling into the oh-so-common fantasy trap of giving all the personality to the villian.

I would recommend this book and all the others in the series to anyone.

epic of epics
The epic story of love lost and wrongs righted.Nevyn ,as a young man loses his true love by an act of jealosy and pledges to the gods never to rest until he rights the wrong he has done. The gods hear his vow and hold to it. He spends centuries of life waiting for all the players to reborn in the same time for him to accomplish this.Over the centuries he becomes a great dweomer master and uses his powers to save the kingdom again and again.
Before I read this series I felt the genre was becoming stale. This author has renewed my love of fantasy adventure.

way too many cliches
I got this book out of the library after hearing the series highly recommended by a friend of mine.I was severly disappointed!While the plot is sort of interesting (if you take away the excessively cheesy romance parts), this book is so full of fantasy cliches and poor writing that it was difficult to make myself finish it.Even with a good plot, it's hard to focus on it when characters are saying "Ye Gods!" every five sentences.The glossary and language references are completely unnecessary and make it look like the author was trying too hard.Why bother making up words (like "Wyrd") when perfectly reasonable ones exist for the concept?Why use a word like "dweomer" which is completely unpronounceable, in addition to looking ridiculous?

Honestly the writing reminded me of fantasy stories I wrote myself when I was 14 or so.I can imagine if you are around that age, this would probably be a pretty enjoyable and interesting book.But if your literary tastes are more refined, it's hard to get past the writing style.

If you don't read this series in this life, it will haunt you in the next!
Once upon a time there was a selfish prince. He thought he was in love with a beautiful lady, but then he discovered the dweomer - that's magic, kiddies - and he decided to run away from home and become a penniless, scruffy magician instead. But when he abandons the pretty lady, her brother swoops in and gets all Flowers in the Attic with her. Her brother's best friend, who's also in love with her, gets mad at him. Brother kills friend, friend's little brother kills brother, and pretty lady kills herself. Then the selfish prince finds out that what he was supposed to do was marry the pretty lady so they could both learn dweomer together. By leaving her, he failed all three of them - the lady Brangwen, her brother Gerraent, and his friend Blaen. The prince, now named Nevyn, or "no one," vows to right his wrong. And so he lives, not very happily, ever after. And ever, and ever....

Four hundred years later, poor Nevyn is still kicking around. And now, all the players in the old drama have been reborn into the land of Deverry. Reincarnation is pretty much the backbone of this entire series. Kerr has created an incredibly complex web of past lives, with dozens of characters meeting in varying combinations over the course of centuries to work out their fate, or Wyrd. Moreover, her tale is not sequential. Timelines weave in and around each other - Kerr has used the metaphor of a Celtic knot to describe the pattern - so that the reader can immediately see the causes and effects of various actions taken over the years. While this could get complicated, Kerr provides two aids to the reader. One is the table of incarnations found in (almost) every book, which grows with new columns and rows each time a new character or event is added. Second, Kerr is masterful at making (most) of her characters completely recognizable from one incarnation to the next. This is especially true of secondary characters, who could, admittedly, clog the gears a bit. But Kerr makes it clear that they always serve a purpose - they are, indeed, part of the larger pattern.

In Daggerspell, the first book in a series that looks like it's going to stretch to 15, things remain relatively simple, with only three timelines and a handful of characters to worry about. These include Nevyn, of course, who's a delightful mainstay of pretty much the entire series. Yes, he's a powerful, seemingly immortal wizard. He's also avuncular without being condescending, smart, has a sense of humor, and is refreshingly practical. He's still trying to bring Brangwen to the dweomer, so of course he's thrilled to meet the tomboyish Jill and her father Cullyn, a notorious mercenary. Then the dashing young lord Rhodry Maelwaedd gets involved, and Nevyn realizes that once again, these three will have to work out their Major Issues before Jill can fulfill her Wyrd.

Along the way, Jill, Rhodry, and Cullyn get involved in a battle that seems straightforward but soon reveals itself as a part of a larger dweomer war. They also meet the Westfolk, as refreshing a take on elves as Nevyn is on wizards. The Westfolk will play a huge role in the story to follow, so pay attention.

Then again, in the long run, nearly everything that happens will have significance later - or earlier, given the twisted timeline. That's one of the great things about this series, that no matter how many times you reread it (and for me, that's a lot) there will always be a new connection to draw. Something in Book 2 will suddenly make sense given what we learn in book 10, and vice versa. I realize for many people, the vast and nonlinear storyline will simply be too byzantine to be enjoyable, or even understandable. (Kerr admits she gets a lot of complaints from confused readers.) Still, if you love well-written, well-researched, intelligent, and complex fantasy, you can't do much better, in my opinion, than the Deverry series.

Great
Having taken a look at the mediocre reviews for this book, I feel glad that I did not listen to them.

A wonderful story, about fate and destiny, the intertwining forces of life that can pull you into any direction. As a stream of water that may go which ever way it pleases, this is a tale about characters journeying in it's twist and turns. A tale consisting of great battles fought both in war and personal trials. A story that pulls the boundaries of good and evil, involved the presence of both love and loneliness, but most of all a story of providence and the will in exerts upon us.

Do not expect clear-cut, triumphant victories over the "bad guys", or focusing on just one particular character or hero. Do expect a nice mixture of both magic and swords, different threads of story expertly pulled together, dips into both the past and present of the characters lives, the battling of our own inner-demons, political intrigue, much suspense, wars battled in the field and out, a use of terms such as "lass, wench, ye gods, pig-faced bastard (and other assorted name calling involving pigs and swine), and an intricate love story weaving itself in and out of the spine of this fantastic tale.

Only four stars not five because of Robin Hobb and George Martin, those two authors spoiled me. Very recommended.
... Read more

Product Description
Orphaned by a cholera epidemic, Neb and his young brother are sent to the desolate farm of their last living relative. But when the savage Horsekin tribes begin raiding the villages along Deverry's western border, the brothers must flee for their lives. A chance encounter with Salamander-a bard and master of dweomer magic-proves their salvation, as he brings them to the shelter of Tieryn Cadryc's dun. Here Neb finds love with his soulmate Branna only to be dragged into a war for the very survival of the kingdom. And though both Neb and Branna are gifted with dweomer magic, they are also facing powerful enemies they have fought before in past lives they no longer remember. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Kerr is BACK with the last Deverry installment
"Katharine Kerr returns with her eager readers back to Deverry. Ms. Kerr also addresses her readers, in the Author's Note, that her novels are meant to be read as "part of one long story, divided into four 'acts,' as it were."

In The Gold Falcon the novel begins with sadness. We learn that two brothers, an adolescent Neb and much younger Clae, are both orphans sent to their uncle's decaying farm. One night they go out into the woods to look for more berries and manage to escape and hide from the ruthless Horsekin invaders that attack the village.

Fortuitously, they run into a kind stranger by the name of Salamander, who immediately recognizes Neb as Nevyn from his past life and takes him into Tieryn Cadryc's dun with his younger brother. It is here at the Dun that Neb meets his former past life soulmate Branna, though at the time they have no idea why they are so compelled to one another. In fact, once they realize that both of them can see the Wildfolk (small fairies and gnomes that only appear to people with dweomer or elves) they are instantly drawn to one another as well as confused and frightened.

Eventually, both are introduced to the Westfolk (elves) and a very powerful and beautiful dweomermaster Dallandra. In time both learn that their strange dreams are actually flashbacks into their past lives, their "dweomer masters" souls are struggling to recall old powerful memories buried away in their new bodies.

We also learn that Rhodry is still roaming Deverry as a dragon, Rori, with his mate Arzorah. Both dragons are integral pieces in the war against the Horsekin. However we also discover many secrets about Rori. Yet despite enjoying the power of flight he still longs to be turned back into a man.

What I enjoy the most about this series is the aspect of reincarnation. There are certain traits that souls have which are continuously carried over into the next life. Certainly this is not new this idea of bettering oneself in life to come back better or stronger in the next. But the way that Kerr weaves her story and characters continuously meeting, losing, and then making enemies, befriending enemies is really a work of art. She captures the whole essence of Celtic story-telling. It takes multiple incarnations of the characters to "make things right" with one another based on the vows they have made and how all of their destinies are linked because of the dweomer magic. I enjoy this idea that debts they owe to one another will never die until they are fulfilled. Only then can they begin on a clean slate, or achieve enlightenment or nirvana, and their soul can make the decision whether or not to be reborn on the astral plane.

I strongly recommend this series for any fantasy lovers. First begin with Daggerspell, it can be immensely confusing picking out all the character's past lives without reading their prior history. Kerr also includes an incarnation table in the back of her novels which help greatly to keep track of reincarnations."

Really? No other reviews yet?!
Well, I guess I'll be the first to say that this is a wonderful book--though I'm not sure how well-received it might be by someone who hasn't read the rest of the eleven books leading up to The Gold Falcon. Truth be told, I made the same mistake myself when I first discovered this series; I randomly selected The Red Wyvern (book nine), and found myself completely and thoroughly confused by the time I'd reached the second chapter.
It's well-worth the confusion, though--and really, if you start with the first book, Daggerspell, you'll get the hang of Kerr's writing style quickly enough.

These books aren't written in a linear progression (which, as afore mentioned, can create some confusion) she describes her method as being like a celtic knot in novel form: parts of the tale weave in and out of each other, with story-arcs that feature different incarnations of a core set of characters. The reader is left with a very eloquent and intriguing impression of the kinds of decisions and drama that affect us all, and the ramifications that echo through multiple lifetimes.
I understand that Kerr is an avid Dungeons&Dragons player, and it's pretty obvious in her use of Elves, Dwarves, Dragons, etc. I occasionally wish she'd get away from some of the more "cartoonish" aspects of these different magical races and stick with the riveting and more historically based medieval storylines in her books.
She's created a fascinating and well-fleshed out world in which people interact in a deeply compelling way. Over the course of eleven books, the reader has had the chance to walk a mile in the footsteps of every echelon of her society, from bondsman to Gwerbret or even King. I usually find it hard to put these books down, and I think I gobbled The Gold Falcon up in one gluttonous sitting.
Basically, if you've loved the series so far, you'll be buying this book no matter what, and I doubt you'll be disappointed. (I wasn't.) And if you haven't read any of Kerr's other books, I think I'd recommend that you start at the beginning. One gets the impression that Kerr has a very distinct destination in mind, and you don't want to miss one step of the journey. ... Read more

Product Description
Katharine Kerr's richly imagined cycle of novels set in Deverry and the Westlands has earned a devoted following--and a reputation as the finest Celtic fantasy being written today. Now she returns to Deverry's war-ravaged past....

In a kingdom torn by civil war, young Lillorigga seeks to shield her dawning powers from her cruel mother Merodda's manipulation. Mistress of a magic that, untamed, could kill her, Lilli brings her terrifying visions under the kindlier tutelage of the mysterious dweomermaster, Nevyn. But soon she must choose between her own clan and the true king who fights to claim his rightful throne, between sanctuary and blood feud, loyalty and love. Little does she dream that the slaughter she invites, and the malevolence she defies, could stalk her across the ages...twisting and twining the strands of timeless destinies.


From the Paperback edition.Amazon.com Review
Long, long ago in Deverry, Lillorigga, daughter of the Boar clan and cousin to the child-king, becomes enmeshed in the increasingly sinister politics at the palace of Dun Deverry. Not least among the plotters is Lilli's own mother, the enchantress Merodda. Lilli has inherited Merodda's powers, but not her taste for power. When Merodda orders the death of Lilli's foster mother, Bevyan, Lilli leaves Deverry swearing revenge. Her actions will have consequences not only in her time, but also in generations to come, as those who die are reincarnated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Book Eight in the Series, and Still Going Strong
In Cengarn, Rhodry of the silver daggers - half-elven, half-human - is beset by strange dreams. A dark-haired enchantress, the Raven Woman, is haunting his sleep, and he can find no release, even in the arms of Dallandra, his lover.
Little does he know that his feud with the Raven Woman goes back over three hundred years, to a time when the throne of Deverry stood under threat of civil war. In those days, the young king's counsin, Lilli, was forced by her scheming mother to scry for omens, and she saw terrible visions: great red wyverns sweeping down from the mountains to plunge like hawks upon a herd opf feeding swine....

The fancies of an idle mind? Or omens foretelling bloodshed and disaster for the clan of the Boar?

Katherine Kerr's writing takes a bit of getting used to, but it's worth the effort. She approaches her stories with a Celtic storytelling mindset, which means she conveys events according to their significance to the story, as opposed to chronologically. Consequently, while the stories begin in the "present" (which is an elastic concept, anyway, in a fantasy setting), the events unfold, chapter wise, both in the "present" and in the distant past. This can be frustrating, at first, but Kerr's writing is heavily steeped in Pagan and Western Mystery tradition, and the Celtic setting (and mindset) of her characters means that time, or chronological time, is not essentially relevant. To be honest, I found the first book infuriating, as I spent a lot of time trying to adjust to the writing style. However, I found the story engrossing enough that I persevered, and by the second book was so hooked I've read all ten in her three series.

Kerr's story evolves around the concept of reincarnation, and unfinished business, and "karma", and fate. The same souls recur again and again, just in new bodies, over the course of the centuries over which the story unfolds.

Kerr's world is one of High Fantasy, populated by Elves, Men, and Dwarves, as well as faeries/elementals, which she terms the "Wildfolk". However, hers is a slightly more dark, dangerous and less clear cut world than the works of other High Fantasy authors, not the least due to the fact that someone who was your friend in a former life can re-emerge in the story centuries later as a foe, and vice versa. There is a tremendous amount of magic, but it's the magic of the Western Mystery tradition (quite a bit of Golden Dawn and even Enochiana), and that of R.J. Stewarts Faery tradition. There are dragons, and giant beast men.

The Elves are a fallen race, driven out of their magnificent and palatial cities centuries before by invaders, and who now roam the plains as primitives. They possess the potential to be superlative magicians, but the knowledge was lost in the fall of their civilization. Humans, though warlike and shorter lived, have preserved this knowledge, but guard it jealously. The Wildfolk, basically magic incarnate, are unhinged from the effects of "karma", but lack permanence of personality, and cannot grow or develop, cursed to stagnation. The Dwarves are a secretive mystery, entrenched within the earth. Each has something to offer the other, and the story that unfolds is the story of this "technology" exchange, of sorts, between them.

Fans of Marion Zimmer Bradley, who clearly influenced Kerr, will be enraptured by this series, as will fans of Kate Eliott, who Kerr, herself, clearly influenced. It's phenomenal! Devotees of the New Age, Esoteric or Occult will find themselves nodding and smiling as they read, and sincerely hoping Kerr's writing will do for the Western Mystery and Faery traditions what Bradley's has done for Wicca.

This book rules
Katherine Kerr is a master.I have never been so enchanted by a story.I have delved deeper than I ever thought possible.I have read the whole series 9 times and it keeps getting better.Pure genius. My brother feels the same.

It's part of a series?LAME!
This book apparently is part of a many book long series, which you MUST read in order to understand it.Unfortunately, NO indication is given of this on the book itself.The story skips around through a series of non-related characters and sub-storylines that maybe make sense if you have read the rest, but as a standalone book it is worthless.The writing style is decent, but nothing is ever really explained well enough for you to piece things together.Usually when I pick up a book that is part of a series, the author explains things well enough that I can get an idea of 'what has happened before'.Not in this book.There are NO clues at all.It was very confusing.

a little complicated at first, but very good
The dragon mage series are a part of a much larger project - the epic or the kingdom of Deverry.
We follow charachters in their several different lives all at once. We meet a charachter in his "present" life and in his past and future one. It is hard at first and you can get a little lost, but when you get it it is a delightfull story to read. It enchants you and then you spend almost a year cursing the author for not writing the last book of the series yet.
The storry is complex and the charachters develop nicely, although sometimes they lack some depth.
It is overall a good book to read for a more demanding mind.

The Red Wyvern
I have found all of Katharine Kerr's books to be exceptional. She has created a whole world and filled its history with detailed characters and facinating plots.This book is the first is a new series for her, thoughit is also a continuation of her on-going story.I can highly recommendall her books. ... Read more

Product Description
Katharine Kerr has enchanted readers with her magical Deverry and Westlands cycle, and now she brings to a breathtaking conclusion the epic saga begun with The Red Wyvern and The Black Raven.

The final chapter begins in the holy city as it rises from the ashes of Deverry's long wars. Prince Maryn prepares to claim the high kingship, but still the rebel Boar clan stands fast against him. And at court, his illicit passion for the young dweomer apprentice, Lilli, threatens to revive a curse that only she -- at her own peril -- can lift.

It is a drama that will be played out centuries later in the city of Cerr Cawnen. Among the many who take refuge in the lakeside citadel, nestled in a volcano's shadow, are a Westfolk band guided by the elven enchantress Dallandra and protected by Rhodry Maelwaedd and his fiery guardian dragon.

Meanwhile, from the north come the savage Horsekin slavers, ancient foe of the Westfolk, now bent on the domination of Cerr Cawnen. They are awaited by the sorceress Raena, their self-sworn high priestess and the votary of an evil goddess. Now, as Rhodry and Raena renew their timeless enmity, the fate of the city and every soul within it hangs in the balance -- and on an act of self-sacrifice dangerous beyond imagining.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Kerr is one of the Best
After reading the other customer's reviews I decided to put my thoughts in about the Deverry series. The plot in all her books is this, whatever a person does in life good or bad will come back to them in this life or the next (what comes around ,goes around).

Payback is a, shall I say harsh, if you mistreat someone in life as Maryn did to Bellyra, (Bellyra was totally in love with Maryn but he could not love her back the same way she loved him) you come back as Yraen, who was madly in love with Carramaena, Bellyra reborn, but Carra couldn't love Yraen (Maryn reborn) the same way he loved her. Do you see the cycle!? Carra got what she couldn't have as Bellyra, Maryn's (Yraen) love.

The reason the books jump around in time is because, as shown above, the complete story would be very confusing to tell in order. Each time line shows the struggle that each soul must go through in order to redeem themselves from their past wrongs and in the case that a soul was wronged in the past, whoever wronged them needs to and usually does make it up. Every soul gets what they want in one life time or another, sometimes things are just not meant to be.

The main story or theme is the tragedy and soon (once the cycle runs it course) the happiness or completeness of the souls of Brangwen and Galrion. The rest of the people are those souls that became entangled into Brangwen's life and rebirths and Galrion or Nevyn's life, most of the souls were deeply involved in the original tragedy of Brangwen and Galrion. In addition, to keep the story interesting and to keep you guessing, Kerr throws in things like Rhodry becoming Rori and thats just one example. But a fantasy book wouldn't be a fantasy book without battles, sieges, mystery and magic.

Kerr's Deverry series is better then great and I can not wait until the cycle is finally complete. *The series is a must read for fantasy book fans.* If you don't get the whole story after reading the books, the only advices I can give you is read all the books again and keep a chart of the soul's rebirths next to you.

Another Wonderful Book
I have read all of The Dragon Mage part of the Deverry series so far. You get really into the characters. At first I liked Prince Maryn, but in this book you see a different side of him. I nearly cried with all the tragedy at the end of that part. I can't wait to find out what will happen to Salamander, as well as Dallandra and her apprentice, Niffa. All in all, it was another great book!

What finally happened with the curse tablet
Finally, in Kerr's usual braided, nonlinear storytelling style, we have not only some decisive events in the 'present', where Ebany's madness and Evandar's resolution of the Guardians' fate are coming to a head, but the conclusion of the Time of Troubles thread, providing the connection between the events of THE BLACK RAVEN and Maddyn the bard's final fate as shown in A TIME OF EXILE.

In the Time of Troubles (first third of the book), Maryn has finally taken the Holy City of Dun Deverry, and is putting the finishing touches on the defeat of the Boar clan to end the generations of civil wars that have raged among the various claimants for the high kingship. But despite Nevyn's best efforts, this man who's been shaped to be high king has a serious flaw: he's a womanizer who hasn't got sense enough to stay away from the wives, daughters, and sisters of some of his most loyal supporters; his current mistress, Nevyn's apprentice, sister of an influential tieryn, and betrothed to one of the silver daggers of Maryn's personal guard, is all three. Worse; Maryn's wife Bellyra truly loves him, and is too perceptive not to notice his affairs, but regardless of her feelings, she must stay with him for the kingdom's sake, being his claim on the Cerrmor side of the great conflict.

The curse tablet's spell on Maryn is still in effect, despite Nevyn's best efforts, but he's getting the nasty impression that he can see its subtle effects all around him, as Bellyra's distress is increased not only by her usual severe postpartum depression, but by another pregnancy only a few weeks after her last son's birth.

In the present, Evandar may have finally resolved not only the fate of his own people, the mysterious Guardians, but may provide the answers to some ancient riddles about the fall of the elven kingdoms of the West, as well as a chance for those great cities (the first love of his life) to be reborn. As part of one of his long-laid schemes, he's working on getting Ebany out of Bardek and back home to the Westlands, where his 'madness' can be cured. Rhodry, meanwhile, is working on keeping his oath to take Jahdo home to the northlands and catching the dark dweomermaster who kept taking the form of a raven and stirring up trouble among the Horsekin.

The ending of this book isn't the end of the series - there's one more volume to come - but Rhodry's final confrontation uses a very neat twist: something that a reader should have known for ages, but won't be expecting to see come into play. Very cool.

Splendid language, uneven characters
As a longtime fan of the Deverry series, I usually rush right out to buy each new volume the day it's released. This latest installment is in no way a disappointment; it still contains Kerr's wonderful use of dialogue and the intriguing mysticism of the dweomer.

One aspect of this book, however, is less than satisfying. The section set during the Civil Wars contains infinetely more developed characters than the section set in "the present;" Kerr seems far more engaged and in tune with Nevyn, Lilli, Bellyra and Maryn than she does with Dallandra, Niffa, Raena and Rhodry. This has been a problem throughout the Dragon Mage series. As a result, the second half of this book feels flat compared to the first, and its characters seem strangely unrealistic when placed against the tortured, complex, wonderfully human characters described during the Civil Wars. Despite the imagination that has gone into the Horsekin, the Guardians and the dragon, these elements of blatant unreality detract a lot from one of the series' main strengths.

However, one shouldn't complain too loudly about a novel that's just "very good" instead of "brilliant." Anything by Kerr is usually vastly superior to the majority of fantasy novels out there (many of which seem to have been written on autopilot by authors trying to make condo payments). Deverry fans will find no reason here to stop loving the series!

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OUT THERE!
O.k. I will admitt I am a book worm I mean I read the whole series in 2 weeks but I loved it so much.This book was awsome it had so many twist and turns and it did have a great story even if some don't agree.Katherine makes you know the person her characterization is so good.Every person I can feel what they are feeling even if it takes a while to get to know some of them.In this book I found that She kept on doing it.I was not shure of the dragon in the beginning but it ended that I do like her but then that surprise came that was hinted in the begginning.You will have to read and see how many surprises show up. I say read this book NOW!! ... Read more

Product Description
For the devoted followers of the dazzling Deverry and Westlands cycle, Katharine Kerr continues the magical epic saga she began in The Red Wyvern.

In her latest tale, the scene shifts seamlessly between the shattered land of the Rhiddaer and the historic end of the Civil Wars, when Lilli, newly apprenticed to dweomer, fought with her untried powers to save her beloved Prince Maryn from evil.

Centuries later, in the city of Cerr Cawnen, the old evil awakens yet again when the sorceress Raena schemes to destroy Rhodry Maelwaedd, her bitter enemy during life after life. But her malice will draw the intervention of astral powers--and unleash the ravaging rage of Rhodry's guardian dragon. Only another untried dweomer can buy safety for the city and the berserker himself--and only at a most fearsome price....


From the Trade Paperback edition.Amazon.com Review
The Black Raven is Book Two of The Dragon Mage and the10th volume of the Deverry series, a fantasy epic consisting of threeinterrelated quartets. As Katherine Kerr says, the past and thepresent are woven together in these novels, and the final volume willlink with the first to reveal an overall design akin to a Celtic knotthreading back and forth upon itself. This is a strange, pseudo-Celticworld in which reincarnation is a reality and past lives foreveraffect the present in surprising and unexpected ways. So, while TheBlack Raven can stand alone, it is advisable that readers beginwith the first book, Daggerspell.

Inthis complex novel of civil war, sacrifice, and power, what impressesmost is that Kerr uses an epic canvas to tell a strongly characterizedand very human tale of hatred and destructive evil, and of theconsequences of past malevolence on both the heroine Lilli and thePrince Maryn. By keeping the narrative tightly focused around a smallnumber of characters, and by maintaining strict limits on the ratherelaborately conceived elements of magic and the supernatural,Katherine Kerr ensures that her fantastical history does not overwhelmthe more personal and affecting dimensions of the tale. The result isa polished, emotionally involving, and powerful novel in which eventhe dreams of a dragon may come evocatively to life. --GaryS. Dalkin, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Another good installment
If you liked all the others, you'll like this one too.The story is finally moving a little again and it's a nice change.

Duality, dweomer, detail...
This is the second book in the Dragon Mage series, which chronicles the fortunes of the inhabitants of Deverry and those of the Northlands and Westlands in various centuries.
I found this sequel to The Red Wyvern slightly unsatisfying, but still an absolute charm of a novel, with the kind of detail a fantasy trainspotter like me thrives upon. Kerr does feudal villages and castles and fantasy/history exceedingly well; her characters are multidimensional and challenging - particularly the women, which I believe is deliberate: the men tend to be more distant - romantic figures or even caricatures - which I suppose might annoy you if you are a man. But this is quite unashamedly a book from a woman's point of view: for instance, when the men go to war the action of the novel tends to stay with the women left behind. This works very well indeed: it's not a feminist treatise, just an honest authorial perspective.
In The Black Raven, we meet my favourite Lillorigga again, this time on the horns of a different dreadful dilemma, torn between her good, honest, loving, considerate, brave, strong, boring husband-to-be and the not altogether natural charisma and charms of the importunate Prince Maryn; working with dangerous magic to unravel a deadly curse on the Prince at the expense of her health and not entirely free of the spectre of her evil dead mother.
But it's Niffa who takes my fancy in this one. Just coming into the awareness of her psychic abilities and hounded by Raena, the misguided sorceress with little conscience and too much power for her own - or anybody else's - good, Niffa mourns her murdered husband and is comforted by the family ferrets, unaware that her pain and persecution is a repetition of that of Lillorigga and her mother, doomed to continue, cycle upon cycle, in different incarnations, until, presumably, the battle between the supernatural forces which blights the lives of the inhabitants of Deverry and, centuries later, Cerr Cawnen, is resolved.

Raven Review
As a fan of this Katharine Kerr series in its entirety I found this book to be a must read, and one that I could not put down.Her style of writing has remained as easy to read and all engrossing as when she first began the series.This last series though has tended to focus on fewer time-line scenarios than her previous books.While in after-thought I find this a little tedious (the book mainly revolving around the Llilorigga-Maryn, and Rhodry-Raena story-lines) you can tell that the story is coming to some grand conclusion which makes it worth the read!If you have read the series from the beginning it is a little disappointing compared to the excitement of the initial Daggerspell series, but we are still comparing greatness to not-so-exciting greatness!Its not a book to be read out of sequence, start with Daggerspell and from there you can't go wrong!

could be better
This book was ok...but definitely not what she could really do. Compared ot Daggerspell, this one didn't really outshine the rest. As I read each one, it got better and better, therefore I expected this one to be the bestso far. But the Red Wyvern was like the climax...I hope the rest of thebooks don't turn out to be like this one.

Beautifully written....
As a reader of fantasy novels for many years I rate Ketherine Kerr's series very highly. The Dragon mage series is her best yet. As many of series decline with quality (most notably Jordan - sorry if this offendsanybody!) Kerr's books just get better. I was totally captivated by thebook and am looking forward to the remaing couple of books in the series.Katherine if your reading this can you speed them up? :-) ... Read more

Product Description
Rhodry, his new dragon ally Arzosah, and the dwarven axemen are rushing to aid the town of Cengarn, under seige from the massive Horsekin army.

Meanwhile, within the town walls, the Princess Carra - and her precious unborn child - is under the protection of the sorcerers Jill and Dallandra who eagerly await the arrival of their allies.

OnIy by destroying Alshandra can there ever be peace between Horsekin and humankind. But it seems an impossible task... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Celts and Katherine Kerr
This is an incredible work in which the author mingled the Celtic myths and the classical world of Middle Ages. bound together, they bring admire to the reader and in the certain way it can be compared with The lord of the Rings by J.R.R.Tolkien. Celtic stories make not only the epic picture but became the brilliant backgroung of the detective line in which Lady Mallona, the foe of Rhodry was involved. Also the idea of soul reincarnation in the World of Men and the Lands of Evandar is described as well as the real astrologist can feel it. Well, many things can be told here, but as for me, the legal translator of this book, the stories of Celts haven't lost its poetry and magic, and A Time of Justice did swallow me with my head, despite it is the first novel of Mrs.Kerr I have read

Katherine Kerr is absolutely enthralling
I loved this book and all the others in the series. Katherine Kerr is my absolute all time favorite author.
When I first saw the title Time of Justice however, it really through me for a loop because I was thinking, "Oh my, a Katherine Kerr book I not only haven't read but had never even heard of!!"
The confusion is because this book is also published under the title of "Days of Air and Darkness". I didn't want others to experience my confusion so just wanted to let everyone know.

Time of Justice
Fans of Katharine Kerr will not likely be disappointed by "Time ofJustice".Those who have come to appreciate her gritty and visceralinterpretation of an alternate medieval world will not be left lacking. Rhodry's noble yet flawed heroism, the frequent flashbacks, and sorcery ofa very ancient kind are all present throughout the novel.As aninstallment in the ongoing, complex series, it is indispensable.However,this book lacks the strength to stand on its own as so many of Kerr'sprevious (and later) works have been able to.One feels that Kerr waswriting for the deadlines rather than for herself, and this give thenarrative a hurried, superficial feel.While a fan should in no way bediscouraged from reading this book, new readers are apt to be confused andput off by a style which depends greatly upon its intricate twists andmeanderings. Therefore, this should be looked upon as a step towards aconclusion rather than a representative of the whole. ... Read more

Product Description
In the peaceful land of the Rhiddaer, Jahdo the ratcatcher's son stumbles unwittingly upon a clandestine meeting - between an ambitious councilman and a dangerous, mysterious woman...

So begins a sequence of events that tangles Jahdo in a web of intrigue and black magic which will drag him far from his beloved home. In the company of Meer, an eyeless bard of the Horsekin, Jahdo must journey to Deverry to unravel the evil that binds him.

Soon he is caught up in dangers greater than any of his kind could ever have conceived. Two powerful sorcerers are battling to save the country from a goddess gone mad.If they don't succeed, the consequences would be unthinkable... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

More Great Katherine Kerr!
A Time of War: Days of Blood and Fire is another of Katherine Kerr's wonderful novels of Deverry and the Westlands.It is a classic celtic fantasy, full of reincarnation, dweomer (magic), and more. Jahdo, aratcatcher's son from north of Deverry, volunteers to travel with Meer, aneyeless bard of the people known as the Horsekin.Jahdo's decision pullshim into a web of dweomer and war, preventing him from returning to hisparents. This book has all of our favorite characters from Katherine Kerr'sother books, like Jill, Rhodry, and Dallandra.I would reccomend it tofans of Katherind Kerr, but make sure you read the earlier books in thisseries first!

a time of war
a time of war is written in the eloquent style of katherines other deverry novels. following the bloodline of rhodry maelwaaed and jill cullyn of ceermoors daughter. if you liked the others in this series you willundoubtedly like this one. make sure you've started this series with thefirst book darkspell however. ... Read more

Product Description
The author of the beloved Deverry series Dragonspell, Darkspell, The Red Wyvern, turns her hand to a new kind of tale.

On the planet known as Snare, the descendants of Islamic fundamentalist emigrants have created beautiful enclaves, where they can sit on a patio enjoying green grass and "true-roses," but the nomadic tribes live in a much harsher landscape, where the grass is purple, the trees are orange, and the huge and dangerous sentient Cha'Meech lizards roam the landscape.

Idres Warkannan and his companions are on a quest through this landscape, looking forthe only man who can redeem their Islamic civilization from its despotic ruler and restore justice to the population. Zayn Hassan, refugee from the despot's service, finds himself living among the tribes of the "comnee," where Healer and Spirit Rider Ammadin, seeing the dangers all around her, is beginning to doubt the gods who are her only protection.

To save herself and her people, Ammadin journeys eastward into war, intrigue, and adventure - and finds more than she bargained for on all counts.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Slow beginning, but worth pushing through
What happens when three very different groups of people, who were actually trying to escape each other and live in isolation, end up marooned together on a distant planet already inhabited by a sentient species? How will they learn to live together and to protect the indigenous ChaMeech, while still preserving their unique heritage and traditions?

This is the backdrop Kerr, author of the acclaimed "Deverry" series of fantasy novels, sets up for her science fiction book that takes place on the planet Snare. After a few false starts and confusing twists and turns, the majority of this novel is excellent, with great characters and an interesting plot.

Two major flaws: The beginning of the book, which is confusing and really fails, in my opinion, to properly introduce some of the major characters. And the end, which trails off somewhat anticlimactically and, it seems, right on the verge of some really interesting stuff we've been anticipating for the last hundred pages! I don't know if Kerr had a sequel planned, but if ever a book screamed for one, this is it.

However, if you can push through the first hundred pages or so, it does get MUCH better, trust me. I love books that feature characters who "switch sides," or have underlying motivations that shape their actions in ways that aren't immediately foreseeable. Suffice it to say that both Zayn, an exiled Karshak who seems to be an assasin sent to kill the rightful Khan, and Soutan, the enigmatic sorcerer who promises to lead the Khan back to his people, are NOT what they appear. None of the characters are static; all grow and change in completely believable ways over the course of the book. Even the alien ChaMeech are revealed to be both more and less "human" than was assumed.

The revellation of the history of Snare and its three groups of settlers (the Muslim Karshaks, the American-Indian-like Comnees, and the technologically advanced Cantonneurs) comes a little late in the book for my taste, and as I said the ending leaves a bit to be desired. But the rest of the book was great enough that I'm dying for a sequel to tie up the loose ends! I would highly recommend this book to both devoted Kerr fans and readers of sci-fi alike.

A book killed by too much tolerance
There are some books that take you by the scruff of the neck and fling you straight into story of strange worlds and stranger people, that set up a seemingly uncomplicated situation and make it seem intricate because we see it through the eyes of intricate, complex people.

This is not that kind of book.

It could have been. It should have been. It even starts out that way -- but that complicated humanity that can bring the most mundane story to life doesn't quite manage to animate this one, despite a very promising start. After giving it some thought, I believe I know why.

Katharine Kerr, like Anne McCaffrey, balances on the fence between sci-fi and fantasy, two genres that are often at loggerheads because of a basic conflict in the worldview of their writers and readers, which boils down to one simple question: what is more important, myth or truth? If your truth were to destroy the most beautiful of myths and strip the world of mystery, would it be better not to know it at all? Fantasy says so. Or is a beautiful lie still a lie, and therefore wrong? Sci-fi says so. To Kerr's credit, she is one of the few "speculative fiction" writers to tackle this issue without necessarily claiming to have one correct answer. In "Snare", truth vs myth is perhaps the central theme that links all the individual characters together, and ultimately they each reach their own conclusion. Some of them don't reach one, and some decide the question is not important, but either way, this is not a book that tries to provide easy answers. Perhaps the only answer it does provide is tolerance -- the importance of recognising the validity of someone else's point of view, the importance of accepting another person's choice even when you don't understand it.

Unfortunately, tolerance has a major drawback in any story: it can destroy drama. By partially or completely eliminating value judgements, all conflict loses relevance. It's impossible to feel for a character's predicament when your sympathies lie on all sides simultaneously. The result is a "wishy-washy" story that tries so hard to be all things to all people that it ends up being none of them to anyone.

This is why it's hard to care about the characters in "Snare". While Kerr's intent seems to be to avoid judgements of their actions, the result is that they often act in ways that seem incomprehensible. More importantly, it's as though nobody cares. A woman murders a man in cold blood in vengeance for his vicious rape of her daughter. Shouldn't there be some personal conflict, both within this supposedly gentle, civilised woman, and between her and other people who may not share her point of view? There is not. Even more incomprehensibly, a man who has been told his whole life that a particular thing is wrong suddenly discovers that another group of people among whom he has ended up doesn't think that there is anything wrong with it. He promptly goes ahead and breaks the taboo he'd held his whole life, and apparently feels no conflict about it later. Nobody else seems to have a problem with it, either, including people who are directly affected by his actions. Why? The list goes on.

The one villain in "Snare" suffers continually from this incomprehensibility. His primary motive is fairly believable, but most of his actions seem nothing more than an artificial attempt to inject conflict into a story diluted by all that tolerance. Thus we get a largely irrelevant "tacked on" backstory about a girl he brutalised (mainly, it seems, to establish the fact that this is an Irredeemably Bad Person). We also get absolutely no dialogue for this guy that involves anything but the immediate -- so it's almost impossible to relate to him on any level except the robotic. He'll respond to questions and occasionally taunt the other characters, but this seems to be the limit of his mental abilities. Essentially, he's a walking conflict device.

One badly drawn villain isn't enough to ruin a great story, of course -- but it's also not enough to inject tension and conflict into a story where everyone is so open-minded and understanding. The end result is, sadly, merely boring.

Pretty good, worth reading
Entertaining book, good and original story line. After finishing the book I got the feeling that something was missing, though I still reckon its worth 2.5-3 stars. I think there probably wasn't enough focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the main characters and when the last "lock fire" command was sent I didn't feel that the suspense was built up enough. Also as another reviewer has mentioned, the inter-racial conflict seemed to dissipate too easily. Overall though I enjoyed it and would recommend it as a good winter (or summer if you're in the North) read.

Snare Failed To Capture My Interest
Despite an intriguing premise, Snare was ultimately a disappointment. Katherine Kerr is an accomplished writer and I've enjoyed both her Deverry fantasy series and her occasional forays in science fiction such as Polar City Blues. What's even more frustrating about Snare is that it's hard to identify just what didn't work. The plot about various factions of humans who end up stranded on an alien world is an intriguing one. How those various cultures have survived, i.e. Islamic, scientist, and "comnee" or specially designed humans, and interacted with each other and the alien ChaMeech seems like it would make for compelling reading. There are a number of interesting and sympathetic characters such as Zayn, Ammi, Loy, Jerzo, the Sibyl, etc. Yet as much as I cared about them, the story just dragged along.

One of the reasons things dragged was the split story. The reader follows two main groups of people as they both race to locate Jerzo Khan, a potential ruler in exile. Along the way the two groups occasionally interact but they are kept so conveniently seperated that it's hard to generate much conflict to drive the story. The one group is hoping to stop (they think) a deadly assassin and yet as we follow the assassin's tale, you realize that he isn't this bad person after all. You know he'll never kill the Khan, so the worries of the other group seem trival.

The plot is further stewed by the arrival of the alien ChaMeech who add more complications to the plot but never any real danger. They supposedly slaughtered a whole community of humans ages ago hich everyone knows about and resents, yet the characters are so noble they never have any doubts about hooking up with the aliens to hammer out their difference. Admirable? Certainly. Interesting? Not so much.

Ultimately the lack of real danger for most of the characters makes for boring reading. And the fact that they were almost all too good and noble for them to be interesting either. The crazy sorcerer doesn't seem to serve any purpose. He's sort of 'bad' without any motivations. I was also troubled by the haphazard feminist message that was once in a while tacked onto the plot. The culture Zayn was raised in is a patriarchal one, the woman kept secluded for the most part or relagated to minor roles, yet he doesn't have any problem with being the Spirit Rider's servant - I find that hard to believe. I find it also hard to believe that the Khanate would be so tolerant of the Tribes and their ways, yet they are.The reason the crazy sorcerer is 'bad' is because he not only does he attract followers and lead them on with false hopes for the future, he also rapes little girls too. At the beginning of the book there is a flashback to a woman saying the horses are freedom, a point that is dropped for the next 500 + pages, only to reappear at the very end as a point that the horses had made the women of the Comnee free. What!? I'd buy it if that had played a significant role in the story, but it doesn't really, so why was it included in the first place? As with the plot, potential cultutal conflicts ripe for drama end up coming to nothing.

So why, you're probably asking yourself, did I finish it? Mostly because I was intrigued by Zayn. He had actually done some bad things and in a way was trying to find himself, or maybe reinvent himself is a better desscription. The other stories felt incidental to his journey of self-discovery. He was the character with the most hang-ups, the most past, the most problems, therefore his story was worth readng about. An extremely flawed novel that could have been much, much more.

delightful world building tale
Former Kazrak cavalry Captain Idres Warkannan and "high tech sorcerer" Yarl Soutan seek Jezro Khan, the exiled brother of the corrupt ruler of Kazrajistan, to lead a revolt to overthrow the worthless dangerous regime of his sibling.At about the same time, the fanatical Muslim sect The Chosen sends assassin Zayn Hassan to stop Jezro's rumored return.

To reach the isolated region where Jezro resides, the two enemy groups cross a grassy wilderness inhabited by the alien Cha'Meech and by human nomads.On his trek Zayn meets Ammadin, the Spirit Rider healer of a nomadic tribe.Not long afterward, he begins to wonder if his chosen profession and his current assignment are justified.Meanwhile the "magician" Soutan learns of the Hassan mission and his allies send out their assassins to kill their competitor.Soon the Cha'Meech encounter Ammadin, the first step towards the quartet of rivals confronting one another, but where this global conflict will lead to when the events unfold is anyone guess.

The key to this science fiction novel is that the four major societies are complex, feel genuine, and their rivalry definitely feels real. To achieve such a deep objective, segments of the plot slow down in order to introduce and develop the cast.Still the contrast between the groups and the varying ethic stands of the key players on each side of the square make for a meandering yet delightful world building tale that SNAREs the reader and never lets go until the final page.

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

Product Description
Prince Dar of the Westlands calls the new fortress of Zakh Gral "a dagger laid against our throat." It was built by the Horsekin, ancient enemies of his people. To destroy the threat, the elven prince has called upon his dwarven and human allies. Their leaders know that if the Westlands fall, their own throats will feel the dagger next. Joining them are two powerful dragons, who have their own bitter reasons to hate the Horsekin.

But the fanatical Horsekin have a powerful ally as well, a new goddess. Alshandra's priestesses have announced that She has given Prince Dar's lands to the Horsekin-and that his people must be utterly destroyed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A great epic series coming close to conclusion
The author has had the ability to keep me spellbound and wanting more through the whole of this massive series and this book is no different.

It gladdens my heart
I've loved Katherine Kerr's Deverrey universe for many years, and I was particularly heartened with what she began in this latest series. The second book can often be the weakest in a trilogy, but this one manages to avoid all the traps. In fact, it's better than The Gold Falcon, in part because Kerr includes a long past-life flashback that really illuminates the current story. I've always liked how Kerr's characters have to work out their wyrd over time... and how the decisions they make in this lifetime affect the ones to follow.

If you haven't read the series before, don't try to start with this one. But if you've read even the first trilogy, you'll want to get into this Silver Wyrm collection.

One of the Best Authors around
I waited breathlessly for Katherine Kerr to write this book.I read it doing everything, cooking, laying in bed, waiting in the car...it was well worth it.

I am now waiting breathlessly for the conclusion to find out what happened to the other characters who were NOT mentioned in this book.There are a few things she needs to put to bed to finish the series.Then I will read it over and over again and again.

The Silver Wyrm
This is an excellent continuation of the series. Ms. Kerr has created a truly unique world with believeable problems and solutions, an excellent story-line and engaging characters.

Her attention to detail and character development make these books a joy to read.

superb epic high fantasy
Some of the Horsekin have civilized themselves and settled in cities but that hasn't abated their thirst for war.They need more lands for their heavy horses to have more pastures and they believe their goddess wants them to have it.The dwarves, the elves and the humans ofDeverry are planning to attack Zakh Grel, the fortress they built to stage their battles from.As the men make ready to go to battle, people from 983, over one hundred years ago who have been reincarnated in the present all have a role to play.

Nevyn the herbmaster was a powerful wielder of Dweomer(magic) found the woman he and then her lost to a magic wielder's poor judgment.In the present he is known as Neb a scribe married to the Lady Bronna once known as Morwen.Both possess Dweomer and are ready to defend the borders.Friends and enemies from 983 are all alive in the present and have a role to play in the upcoming war.In the past Gwairyc was a lord who looked down on commoners but in the present he had to earn his lordship and is a great leader of men.Lez Maj, an outlaw in the present was a pedophile in another past incarnation while Mella, now Sidro, an ex-priestess who is Laz's lover.Maj's lover is fascinated by the black and obsidian pyramid made with magic in 983.As the forces of good and evil begin to march, nobody knows what the outcome will be, not even the seers.

The latest Deverry novel contains an epic high fantasy plot that is absolutely spellbinding.The tale is divided into two parts, 983 and the present and the various players who have reincarnated in the present are believable characters taking their personalities from one era and transforming them into something else in this incarnation.Filled with wondrous creatures like talking dragons who are allied against the Horsekin speakinganimals and heroes who will fight and die for a cause they believe is just, THE SPIRIT STONES is a wonderful and exciting tale.

Harriet Klausner
... Read more

Product Description
CAUGHT IN A WEB OF PASSION, DESTINY AND MAGICFor years the provinces of Deverry have been in turmoil, but the conflict escalates to new heights with the kidnapping of Rhodry, heir to the throne of Aberwyn.Intent on rescuing him, his beloved Jill and the elven wizard Salamander infiltrate the distant land of Bardek, where Rhodry is held captive.

Tied to Deverry by bonds of obligation, the immortal wizard Nevyn begins to see that all its problems originate from a single source - his ancient enemy, a master of dark magics, backed by a network of evil that stretches across the sea. With this realization, Nevyn understands that he too is being lured to Bardek, and into a subtle and deadly trap...

Katharine Kerr's novels of the Kingdom of Deverry unfold in a world of stunning richness and depth, portrayed with unequalled imagination and realism.Now, with Dragonspell, she returns to this enchanted kingdom for the most powerful story yet in this epic series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

OK plot and climax, poor romance, too many superswordspeople
Apologies, excuses, ages since I read it before getting to this review. Dim recollections:
Good:
- Pacing, plot rolls you along
- Nevyn's victory: well realised picture of a master taking on a nasty but inferior contender
Not so good:
- Romance. Typically bad fantasy dialogue - unrealistic, claiming depth and profundity, delivering pap. Mistakes seedy for mature.
- Rhodry must be good - he can beat anyone in a sword fight
- And so can Jill
- And so can the mega assassin turned bodyguard
Sorry, that's about it.

Amazingly Complicated- a Great Read!
I believe this book, and series, is well thought out, complicated in its depth and clarity, but thorough in detail and always wants you to read on and on to the next book. Beautifully intertwined with wit, humor, and reality. While it is a sobering tale, it is full of complications and twists that only fate can explain, as is the authors intent. Truly, this series is enthralling- granted a little difficult to follow at first- but if you love a good intriguing complicated plot that only thickens over time- this is for you! Just remember to keep track of all the names and places, they will come important as you continue with the series.

The author does a great job on weaving a plot as intriguing as the 18th century english court, and as rough and complex as any war, yet filled with empathy and an insight to human nature few authors have attempted of late. This series goes beyond a simple tale, and into a mischievous life and world untouched before. Truly, it is a piece of art, and every-time you examine it you, you will find a new facet to explore. Well worth the effort and mental concentration required to peer through all the complications- the book will always hold something new, no matter how many times you read it!

Good, but it can be WAY better...
For the people that don't know, Dragonspell is also called The Dragon Revenant, which is published by Bantam Books. Kerr can definitely can do better. I kinda found the book quite tedious, despite all the action. Because the 4/5 of the book was pretty much devoted to getting Rhodry backand from his mistress (whom with their love affair I found absolutelyrevolting), I thought itwas a complete waste to have the last 1/5 of thebook to be set on the "painful separation" of Rhodry and Jillbecause of dweamor, and Rhodry's new wife. I mean, COME ONE PEOPLE! Ifanything, cut the boat trip short and all, because I don't want to waste mytime just reading about how bored they were on their boat trip back.

I loved it
This is such a sweet book - well I think so anyway. Nevyn finally gets Jill and all that. I don't know why I read this one third last - I've read all the others. I love this series and it deserves recognition.

very real
Okey, this is a fanatsy book but it feels so real. After reading a while you begin to belive in gnomes, dwarfs and other things that are described in this book. Its a wonderful descibition of a country that relly doesntexist. This book take place in Bardek, the islands in the southern sea. ... Read more